Thermostable xylanases

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses enzymes having xylanase activity. The xylanases are characterized in that they are active at a temperature of 80° C. or higher. The enzymes are obtainable from anaerobic thermophilic bacteria. The enzymes are suited for use in paper and pulp production processes. The invention also describes cloning and expression of genes having xylanase activity obtained from the deposited strains.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to novel microorganisms and to novel enzymes. More specifically, the enzymes are thermostable xylanases. These xylanases are obtainable from anaerobic thermophilic bacteria. The xylanases are applicable under conditions used in the paper and pulp industry i.e. a pH of above 9 and a temperature of above 70° C., specifically the enzymes are active at T=80° C.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Xylan is a component of plant hemicellulose. Xylan consists of a backbone of 1,4-glycosidically linked β-D-xylose. Usually xylans have side chains or groups comprising xylose and other pentoses, hexoses, uronic acids and acetyl groups.

In the paper production process the bleaching of pulp is an important step. Schematically, the process used for pulp treatment in the paper and pulp industry is performed as follows: Pulp is treated at pH 10-12 at 80° C. to remove most of the lignin in the so-called oxygen delignification step. The remaining pulp contains 2-5% of lignin. This lignin gives the pulp its brown color. Subsequently, the pulp is bleached in a multistage bleaching process. In this bleaching process chemicals such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide and/or ozone are used, to obtain a bright pulp for high quality paper.

Chlorine and chlorine-containing chemicals are often used in the bleaching process. However, since the use of these chemicals leads to the formation of dioxin and other chlorinated organic compounds, they form a threat to the environment. Therefore, there is a growing tendency to omit the use of chemicals giving rise to this kind of waste products.

This has prompted a tendency to develop chlorine-free processes; total chlorine-free (TCF) and elementary chlorine-free (ECF). In these processes hydrogen peroxide or ozone is used for bleaching. However, the use of these oxidative chemicals may have a negative effect on the quality of the paper, especially the strength of the paper

It has been found that certain enzymes make the pulp more accessible to bleaching agents, thereby reducing the amount of bleach. Xylanases, in particular, have been found to be very useful in the paper and pulp processing. Xylanases have been reported to increase the extractability of lignins from the pulp. In current processes, xylanases are mostly used after the oxygen delignification step, because they are not active and do not survive under conditions used during oxygen delignification.

Xylanases cleave the hemicellulose chains which are responsible for the close adherence of lignin to the cellulose network. After xylanase treatment the lignin is more easily removed in the subsequent steps.

Therefore the use of xylanases leads to a reduction of the consumption of active chlorine in prebleaching of 25-30%. This reduction of chlorine does not afflict the quality parameters of the resulting paper (Viikari et al. 1986. Proc. of the third Int. Conf. Biotechnology in Pulp and Paper Ind., Stockholm, p.67-69 and Bajpai and Bajpai. 1992. Process Biochemistry. 27:319-325).

The xylanase treatment also reduces the need for other chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, in the bleaching process.

The use of xylanases from fungal sources in bleaching of kraft pulp has been reported. These are acidic xylanases and the pH and temperature optima of the enzymes are: pH 3-5 and T 30-50° C. These values are not ideal for the use in the bleaching process, where the prevailing conditions; are pH≧9 and temperature ≧70° C.

Xylanases from bacterial origin, with higher pH and/or temperature optima, have been reported for use in the bleaching process. Some of these originate from the following species (pH and temperature optima of the reported xylanase activity between brackets):

Bacillus pumilus (pH=7-9, T =40° C., Nissen et al. 1992. Progress in Biotechnology 7:325-337), Bacillus stearothermoohilus (pH=7, T=65° C. International patent application WO 91/10724), Dictyoglomus thermophiluim (pH=6-8, T=70° C., European patent application EP 0 511 933), Rhodothermus (pH=5.5-6.5, T=80-100° C., European patent application EP 0 538 177), Thermotoga (pH=5-6, T=90° C., International patent application WO 93/19171) and Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus (T=68° C., Deblois and Wiegel. 1992. Progress in Biotechnology 7:487-490).

Although the use of some of these xylanases for bleaching has been claimed, no xylanases have been reported to date having the desired characteristics of significant delignification activity at temperature ≧80° C.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses xylanases obtainable from anaerobic thermophilic microorganisms which have been isolated in pure culture from hot springs in New Zealand. The microorganisms have been deposited at the Centraal Bureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), Baarn, the Netherlands, on Apr. 14, 1994.

The present invention also discloses enzymes having substantial xylanase activity at a temperature of at least 80° C. Furthermore, the present invention discloses that said xylanases possess significant delignification activity at a temperature of at least 80° C. Said enzymes are obtainable from the deposited strains.

The present invention further describes a process for the preparation of the xylanases which are active at a temperature of 80° C. The process comprises cultivation of the deposited microorganisms of the present invention in a suitable medium, followed by recovery of the enzymes having the indicated activity.

The present invention also discloses the cloning of the genes encoding the subject xylanases. Expression of these genes in a host cell is also disclosed. The enzymes are essentially pure when obtained in this manner.

Thus the present invention also discloses another method for obtaining the xylanases, i.e. expression of recombinant DNA. The present invention further describes the application of the xylanases under conditions equivalent to industrial application conditions, using high temperature and high pH.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: Phylogenetic analysis of the internal consensus sequences of the six extremophilic strains. Sequences are named as followed; organism/forward primer/recombinant number. The branch number displayed are the values obtained from a boot-strap analysis of the sequences.

FIG. 2: Sequence alignment of- family G internal consensus sequences.

FIG. 3: The xylanase domain of xynD from-TG456 inserted as a Sphl-BamHl fragment in pJLA602.

FIGS. 4A-4D: Paper properties of paper prepared from hardwood pulp TCF bleached as described in Example 15. Ref=no enzyme, 715=TG456 xynD, 716=Tg53 xynD. Tensile index (A), porosity (B), tear (C) and burst (D) in relation to Schoppen-Riegler values are given.

FIGS. 5A-5D: Paper properties of paper prepared from hardwood pulp ECF bleached as described in Example 15. Ref=no enzyme, 715=TG456 xynD, 716=Tg53 xynD. Tensile index (A), porosity (B), tear (C) and burst (D) in relation to Schoppen-Riegler values are given.

FIGS. 6A-6D: Paper properties of paper prepared from softwood pulp TCF bleached as described in Example 15. Ref=no enzyme, 715=TG456 xynD, 716=Tg53 xynd. Tensile index (A), porosity (B), tear (C) and burst (D) in relation to Schoppen-Riegler values are given.

FIGS. 7A-7D: Paper properties of paper prepared from softwood pulp ECF bleached as described in Example 15. Ref no enzyme, 715=TG456 xynD, 716=Tg53 xynD. Tensile index (A), porosity (B), tear (C) and burst (D) in relation to Schoppen-Riegler values are given.

FIGS. 8A-8D: Refining curves as determined in Example 15 for TCF (A) and ECF (B) bleached hardwood pulp and for TCF (C) and ECF (D) bleached softwood pulp. Ref=no enzyme, 715=TG456 xynD, 716=Tg53 xynD.

FIGS. 9A-9B: A comparison of the pH optima (A) and temperature optima (B) of the TG456 xynD xylanase and Pulpzyme HB (Novo Nordisk).

FIGS. 10A-10B: A comparison of the thermostabilities of the TG456 xynD xylanase and Pulpzyme HB (Novo Nordisk) at 80° C., pH 7.0 (A) and at 65° C.; pH 9.0 (B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses microorganisms which have been isolated from hot springs in New Zealand. These microorganisms have been characterized as anaerobic thermophilic bacteria and have been classified according to Rainey (1992. PhD thesis, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand).

The microorganisms have subsequently been screened using a xylan-agar diffusion assay. Strains which showed a clearing zone in this test were selected as potential xylanase producing strains. The strains were grown under anaerobic conditions at pH 7-0 and T=75 or 80° C. depending on the organism. After concentration by ultrafiltration, the culture broth was analyzed for xylanase activity in an assay at pH=6.5 and 9 and T=80° C. (Example 1).

Six different strains were found to produce xylanase activity under the indicated conditions. These microorganisms have been deposited at the CBS (Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures) on Apr. 14, 1994 under deposition numbers: CBS 211.94, CBS 212.94, CBS 213.94, CBS 214.94, CBS 215.94 and CBS 216.94 These deposits were made in conformity with the Budapest Treaty, and will become irrevocably available to the public upon the granting of the patent herein.

The present invention also discloses enzymes having xylanase activity, specifically enzymes having at least a considerable xylanase activity at a temperature of at least 80° C. and a pH of 6 or higher. Said enzymes are obtainable from the deposited strains. Said enzymes are also obtainable from mutants and variants of the deposited strains.

With the expression "considerable activity" is meant that the enzymes of the present invention have at least 80° C., at least 40% of the activity they possess at 70° C., preferably this is at least 60%, more preferably about at least 80%, even more preferably about 200%.

The present invention further describes a process for the preparation of the xylanases which are active at a temperature of about 80° C. or having a considerable activity under these conditions. The process comprises cultivation of the deposited microorganisms of the present invention in a suitable medium, followed by recovery of the enzymes having the indicated activity. Isolation and purification of the xylanase can be performed using standard procedures known in the art.

A partial purification of the enzymes is exemplified in Example 2. In this example the cells are first removed by hollow fibre filtration. Subsequently, the protein is further purified by ammonium sulphate addition to a final concentration of 1M. The solution is then brought on a phenyl sepharose column and the protein eluted with 1M NaCl. Finally, the protein is concentrated by ultrafiltration and salt is removed by diafiltration.

To establish the xylan degrading potential of the xylanases at an alkaline pH, a comparison of the activities of the xylanases isolated from the indicated strains at a pH of 7 and 9 has been made using different substrates and a temperature of 70° C. (Example 3). The xylanases have been shown to possess considerable activity at alkaline pH. Depending on the substrate and the assay, at pH 9 the xylanases have about 20% or more of the activity they possess at pH 7. One xylanase was shown to retain 80% of its pH 7 activity at pH 9.

The thermostability of the xylanases isolated from the indicated strains varies considerably. Some of the xylanases are very thermostable they have a half-life of more than 2 hours at pH=9 and at 80° C. (see Example 4), The half-life at pH=9.0 and 80° C. of the xylanases of the invention is at least 10 minutes, preferably the half-life under these conditions is more than 20 minutes, more preferably it is more than 30 minutes, still more preferably it is more than 60 minutes and most preferably the half-life is more than 120 minutes.

The present invention also discloses the cloning and expression of a DNA sequence characterized in that it encodes a xylanase obtainable from an anaerobic thermophilic strain. The invention discloses vectors, which include expression vectors, characterized in that they contain the DNA sequence encoding the xylanases of the present invention. A microbial host cell characterized in that it is transformed with one of these vectors is also disclosed.

Sequence analysis of the DNA sequences encoding the xylanases of the invention revealed that the obtained sequences fall into two groups of enzymes families, i.e. the F-type and G-type xylanases as previously defined by Gilkes et al. (1991, Microbiol. Rev. 55: 303-315). The xynA, xynB and xynC sequences obtained from the microorganisms of the invention belong to the F-type xylanases; the xynD sequences obtained from these microorganisms belong to the G-type xylanases (see examples 6,7,8 and 9). G-type xylanases from thermophilic microorganisms have not been described previously to the best of our knowledge. The thermophilic microorganisms which are the source of the xylanases of the invention are herein defined as microorganisms with an optimum growth temperature which is higher than 65° C. Preferably the optimum growth temperature is higher than 68° C., more preferably the optimum growth temperature is higher than 70° C., and most preferably the optimum growth temperature is in excess of 75° C.

Expression of the both F-type and G-type xylanase DNA sequences of the invention in E.coli is shown to give an active proteins (see Example 10 and 11). Said proteins are active at a temperature of 80° C.

The cloning and expression demonstrated in the examples of the present description makes possible expression of the genes in homologous organisms. Expression can also be performed in other microorganism using suitable expression and secretion regulating sequences. Organisms of choice are yeast, fungi and bacteria. Specific micro-organisms include strains selected from Aspergillus niaer, Kluyveromyces lactis and Bacillus licheniformis.

The enzymes of the present invention have been shown to possess a considerable activity on oat spelts xylan and on birchwood xylan.

The enzymes of the present invention have further been tested for their bleaching capacity. This bleaching capacity is determined by the delignifying activity of the enzymes of the present invention. The invention discloses enzymes which have a significant delignifying activity, as measured on several wood pulps. The enzyme preparations, xylanases, are capable of delignifying wood pulp at a temperature of at least 80° C. The expression "wood pulp" is to be interpreted broadly and is intended to comprise all kinds of lignocellulosic materials.

The enzymes have been tested for their bleaching capacity on both hardwood and softwood pulps. Lignin removal has been measured according to two different methods (Example 5). Lignin in the medium was determined by the A300 test. In this test all preparations showed significant delignifying activity at 80° C. on both hard- and softwood. At pH 9 and 80° C. the activity on softwood was at leas. 43% of the activity at pH 6, while on hardwood 3 strains showed at pH 9 activities of more than 50% as compared to pH 6, and 3 others 18-30%. Bleaching of softwood pulp was also measured by determining the decrease in the lignin content of the pulp using the kappa test. The kappa number was decreased 0.5 to 14 units after incubation of the pulp at pH 9 and 80° C. with the xylanase preparations.

Additionally, the bleaching capacity of the enzymes of the present invention can be measured by e.g. the increase of ISO brightness of paper produced with conventionally treated pulp, additionally incubated with said enzymes, as compared to incubation without enzymes. Said conventional treatment comprises exposition to bleaching agents such as H₂ O₂, ozone, Cl₂ or ClO₂, according to the art.

The cloned F-type and G-type xylanases of the invention as expressed in E.coli have also been tested for their performance in ECF bleaching experiments on both softwood and hardwood pulp (see Example 12). Surprisingly, we have observed that the G-type xylanases (encoded by the xynD genes) show a much better performance in bleaching sequences on both softwood and hardwood pulp as compared to the F-type xylanases, up to 6.8% ISO delta brightness over the no-enzyme control, which compares to at most 1.2% ISO brightness increase for the best F-type xylanase. Further testing of the thermostable G-type xylanases showed that they also produce excellent results in TCF bleaching experiments on both softwood and hardwood pulp (see Examples 14 and 15). Verification of the properties of the paper produced from the thus bleached pulp showed no significant differences with the no-enzyme control paper.

The cloned G-type xylanases are highly thermostable, even at high pH. A half-life at 80° C. and pH 7.0 of more than 30 minutes was measured. At 65° C. and pH 9.0 the half-life of the enzyme is not significantly reduced, even after 120 minutes of incubation (see Example 16). The half-life at pH 9.0 and 65° C. of the G-type xylanases of the invention is at least 10 minutes, preferably the half-life under these conditions is more than 20 minutes, more preferably it is more than 30 minutes, still more preferably it is more than 60 minutes and most preferably the half-life is more than 120 minutes.

The invention discloses DNA sequences encoding thermostable G-type xylanases the internal consensus fragment (ICF) of which shows more than 80% identity with the ICF of SEQ ID NO 12. The G-type ICF is herein defined as the fragment which lies in between the sequences corresponding to SEQ ID NO 4 and SEQ ID NO 5 in SEC ID NO 12 (nucleotide positions 295 to 623). Preferably the identity with the G-type ICF is more than 87%, more preferably the identity is more than 95%, most preferably, the identity is more than 99%.

In a further embodiment, the invention discloses G-type xylanase sequences which share at least 70% identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 13. Preferably this amino acid identity is-more than 80%: more preferably, the amino acid identity is more than 90%; still more-preferably the amino acid identity is more than 95%; most preferably the amino acid identity is more than 99%.

The enzymes of the present invention can be used immediately after the oxygen delignification step in the pulp preparation process described above. As a consequence of the temperature and pH characteristics of the enzymes, extensive cooling and pH adaptation can be avoided. In another embodiment of the invention, the enzymes are used before or during the oxygen delignification step. Before this step the lignin concentration is much higher and therefore the effect of the application of the xylanase is much larger.

Furthermore, applications of the enzyme preparations of the present invention are described, particularly a process in which wood pulp is treated with said enzyme preparations according to the invention.

Similarly, a fluff pulp can be treated with the enzyme preparations according to the invention.

The invention further relates to paper, board and fluff pulp made from a wood pulp treated with the enzyme preparations according to the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Isolation of strains producing thermostable xylanase activity

Xylanase-producing microorganisms were obtained from hot-springs in various thermal areas of New Zealand. The strains were isolated by in situ enrichment using oat spelts xylan as substrate from hot springs having a temperature of above 70° C., and a pH between 6.0 and 8.5. Cultures of strains were obtained by further anaerobic cultivation in the laboratory on 2/1 medium plus xylan at a temperature (70°, 75° or 85° C.) corresponding to the temperature of the site from which the sample was taken.

The composition of the 211 medium plus xylan is as follows:

    ______________________________________                                          Anaerobic 2/1 medium                                                                                         Resazurin (0.1%)                       1.0                                    ml/l                                               SL10 Trace Elements                    1.0  ml/l                               FeCl.sub.3 soln. (0.28 mg/ml)                1.0  ml/l                         Wolin's Vitamins                        0.1  ml/l                              NaCl                                    0.9 g/l                                MgCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O                             0.2  g/l                     K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4                                  1.5  g/l                    KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4                                  0.75  g/                    NH.sub.4 Cl                                   0.9  g/l                         Cysteine                                0.75  g/l                              Yeast Extract                           0.5  g/l                               Bacto Tryptone                          1.0  g/l                               Oat spelts xyian                        2  g/l                                 pH 7.0                                                                         Dispense under N.sub.2 gas                                                    Wolin's Vitamin Mixture                                                                           mg/100 ml                                                    Biotin  2.0                                                                    Folic acid                              2.0                                    Pyridoxine HCl 10.0                                                            Riboflavin                              5.0                                    Thiamine                                5.0                                    Nicotinic acid                          5.0                                    Pantothenic acid                        5.0                                    Vitamin B12            0.1                                                     p-Aminobenzoic acid          5.0                                               Thioctic acid                       5.0                                       SL10 Trace Elements modified                                                    5M HCL          15  ml                                                                           mg/l                                                         ZnCl.sub.2                               70                                    MnCl.sub.2.4H.sub.2 O                          100                             H.sub.3 BO.sub.3                               6                               CoCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O                          130                             CuCl.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O                          2                               NiCl.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O                         24                               NaMoO.sub.4. 2H.sub.2 O                        36                            ______________________________________                                    

Pure cultures of strains were obtained from single colonies in agar roll tubes. Culture concentrates obtained by ultrafiltration were tested for xylanase activity at 70° and 80° C. and, at pH 6.5 and 9.0 using a dyed xylan method (see below) and the PAHBAH method (see Example 3).

Six strains which were deposited at the CBS (Centraal Bureau voor Schimmelcultures) are depicted in Table 1.

                      TABLE  1                                                

    ______________________________________                                         deposition numbers of strains used in this patent application                              strain                                                                             CBS accession number                                           ______________________________________                                             TG 53   CBS 211.94                                                           TG 453                        CBS 212.94                                       TG 456                        CBS 213.94                                       TG 457                        CBS 214.94                                       TG 479                        CBS 215.94                                       TG 631                        CBS 216.94                                     ______________________________________                                    

Dyed xylan, composed of larchwood xylan coupled to Remazol Brilliant Blue R (Sigma), was prepared following a method described by Biely et al (1985) Anal. Biochem 144, 142-146. Larchwood xylan (6.7 g) was placed into 250 ml water and stirred for several hours at room temperature to dissolve. Remazol Brilliant Blue R (10.0 g) was added to this mixture. After dissolving, 20 ml of a Na-acetate solution (2.7 g Na-acetate in 20 ml distilled water) was added dropwise. Then a solution of 6 g NaCH in 70 ml water was added and stirring continued for 18 hours. The dyed xylan which had formed was precipitated by the addition of 700 ml 96% ethanol. After allowing to stand for 6 hours the precipitate was separated by filtration (Whatman GF/A). The filter cake was washed with 3 l of a 2:1 mixture of 96% ethanol/0.05M Na-acetate, followed by 1 I-96% ethanol and 3 l acetone until the filtrate was colorless. The yield was 10.5 g dyed xylan.

For the enzyme assay, 5.1 g dyed xylan was dissolved in 150 ml 0.1M MOPS buffer, pH 6.8. The mixture was stirred at 70° C. for 4 hours to dissolve. After cooling to room temperature insoluble material was removed by centrifugation at 10,000 x g. For activity assays, the stock solution containing 3.34% w/v dyed xylan was diluted with 0.1M MOPS buffer, pH 6.8 to give a 0.5% dyed xylan working solution.

The enzyme assay using dyed xylan was performed by adding 0.9 ml dyed xylan solution (0.5%) to 0.6. ml enzyme preparation in an appropriate buffer with mixing. A portion (0.4 ml) of this mixture was transferred into 0.8 ml 96% ethanol as control (blank). The remaining solution was incubated at 70° C. for 90 minutes. The reaction was terminated by transferring 0.4 ml of the test mixture into 0.8 ml 96% ethanol. This solution was left at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow for the precipitation of uncleaved dyed xylan. The test samples were centrifuged at for 5 minutes at full speed in a Beckman Microfuge E, and the absorbance of the supernatant was measured at 595 nm in a spectrophotometer.

EXAMPLE 2 Isolation of enzyme preparations

Anaerobic fermentations were carried out in 2 l Schott bottles containing 1800 ml of 2/1 plus xylan medium in stationary incubation at a temperature of either 75 or 80° C. (depending on the organism being cultured) for 24 hrs. From 10 l of well-grown culture the cells were removed by hollow fibre filtration in the presence of 0.01% triton X100 (Amicon DC 10 LA and Amicon 0.1 μm H5MP01-43 filter). Ammonium sulphate was added to the cell free culture medium to a final concentration of 1M. The resulting solution was pumped onto a 9×15 cm column containing 1 l of phenyl sepharose (Pharmacia-Fast Flow-low substitution) equilibrated with 1M ammonium sulphate. The flow rate was 150-200 ml/minute. The column was washed with 5 l 1M ammonium sulphate. The xylanase was eluted with 5 l 1M NaCl. Fractions were collected in 500-1000 ml volumes. The xylanase activity was determined (with the PAHBAH method as described in Example 3) in the fractions and the active fractions were pooled, ultrafiltered to a small volume and diafiltered to reduce the salt concentration using an Amicon Stirred Cell (Model 2000A or 8400) with an YM2 membrane.

EXAMPLE 3 Characterization of xylanase activities of the partially purified enzyme preparations

Analytical methods

Assays for xylanase activity were performed using modified procedures of the Sumner assay (Sumner et al. 1921. J. Biol. Chem. 47: 5-9). Alternatively xylanase activity was determined using a modified PAHBAH assay, based on a method from Lever (1973. Biol. Med. 1: 274-281).

Procedure 1

Sumner assay of xylanase activity on oat spelts xylan

An oat spelts xylan substrate solution is prepared as follows: 4 g oat spelts xylan is suspended in 100 ml demineralized water. The suspension is sonicated for 6 minutes (sonicator: Sonics & Materials, Vibracell type VC 250 B), incubated at 100° C. for 10 min., and centrifuged for 10 min. at 10,000 rpm in a Sorvall RC-5B centrifuge. The supernatant is used as a substrate solution and contains about 2% oat spelts xylan.

The assay is carried out as follows: A test tube is filled with 200 μl oat spelts xylan solution, 600 μl aliquots of enzyme preparation (Example 2) diluted in the appropriate buffer. The test tube is incubated under measuring conditions in a waterbath for 15 minutes. After the incubation, 7.2 ml DNS (dinitrosalicylic acid) reagent is added. The mixture is heated in a waterbath at 100° C. for 10 minutes, whereafter the test tube is cooled on ice. The absorbance is measured at 575 nm. To eliminate the background absorbance of the enzyme samples a control experiment is executed as follows: a tube containing substrate without enzyme preparation is incubated under the same conditions as the test samples. After the 15 minutes incubation 7.2. ml. DNS and the enzyme sample is added (in this order).

One unit of xylanase (xU) activity is defined as the amount of enzyme producing 1 μmol of xylose-equivalent,.measured as reducing-sugar.

Actual measuring conditions were pH 7.0,. 9.0 and 70° C. At pH-7 a 50 mM phosphate buffer was used, and at pH 9 a 50 mN borate/KOH buffer.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         relative xyllanase activities on oat spelts xylan, measured at 70°                                             Activity (%)                            Strain         pH 7.0  pH 9.0                                                  ______________________________________                                         TG 453         100     57                                                        TG 456             100                39                                       TG 457          100 31                                                         TG 479             100                19                                       TG 631             100                31                                     ______________________________________                                    

Procedure 2

Sumner assay of xylanase activity on Birchwood xylan

Essentially the same method as described in procedure 1 is used. Instead of an oat spelts xylan solution a birchwood xylan suspension is used. A birchwood xylan substrate solution is prepared as follows: 4 g birchwood xylan is suspended in 50 ml 0.2N NaOH and agitated until visibly dissolved. The pH of the solution is adjusted to 7.0 with glacial acetic acid, water is added to 100 ml and the solution is centrifuged at 10,000 rpm in a Sorvall RC-5B centrifuge. The supernatant is used as a substrate solution and contains about 3% birchwood xylan. The test conditions were pH 7 and 9 and 70° C. The results are shown in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         relative xylanase activities on birchwood xylan, measured at 70°        C.                                                                                                           Activity (%)                                     Strain         pH 7.0  pH 9.0                                                  ______________________________________                                          TG 453            100 40                                                        TG 456              100               20                                       TG 457             100               21                                        TG 479             100               12                                        TG 631           100               21                                        ______________________________________                                    

Procedure 3

PAHBAH assay of xylanase activity on oat spelts xylan

The modification of the PAHBAH method (Lever, 1973) is to the PAHBAH reagent, as follows: 0.05M trisodium citrate, 0.1M Na₂ SO₃, 0.02M CaCl₂, 0.5M NaOH and 0.1M p-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PAHBAH).

For the assay of the enzyme preparations 0.05 ml or 0.1 ml of enzyme preparation is mixed with 0.3 ml substrate buffer (50 mM Bis-Tris-Propane, pH as required, +0.2% oat spelts xylan in suspension). An appropriate amount of water is added to a final volume of 0.5 ml. Incubation is usually made at 70° C. for 30 min. To stop the reaction, 1.0 ml of PAHBAH reagent is added after incubation and the samples are heated at 100° C. for 6 minutes. The blanks consist of substrate buffer incubated identically to the sample to which the enzyme is added after the PAHBAH reagent. Before determination of the absorption at 420 nm, all samples are centrifuged 1 min at full speed in a Beckman Microfuge E to remove suspended xylan from the supernatant. The results are shown in Table 4. From this Table it can be concluded that at pH 9.0, 80° C. all strains still have a considerable activity as compared with pH 6.0, 70° C.

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         relative xylanase activities on oat spelts  xylan, measured with the            PAHBAH assay                                                                               Activity (%)                                                      Strain       pH 6.0, 70° C.                                                                     pH 9.0, 80° C.                                  ______________________________________                                           TG 53      100        57                                                       TG 453 100 20                                                                  TG 456 100 65                                                                  TG 457 100 82                                                                  TG 479 100 30                                                                  TG 631 100 65                                                                ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 4 Thermostability of xylanase activities

The half-life of the xylanase activity of the enzyme preparations was determined as follows. The enzyme preparation was diluted 1/10 in 100 mM TAPS buffer (pH 9.0 at 80° C.) and incubated at 80° C. A sample was removed at 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 120 minutes and added to 100 mM MOPS buffer (pH 6.0 at 70° C.) on ice, to a final dilution of 1/20 to 1/100 as appropriate for the final assay. The samples were kept on ice until they were assayed at 70° C. and pH 6.0 using the PAHBAH assay method as described in Example 3, procedure 3. The results are shown in Table 5.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         thermostability of xylanase activity at pH 9.0 and 80° C., as             measured with the PAHBAH assay on oat spelts xylan                                           Half-life                                                                       Strain                          pH 9.0, 80°            ______________________________________                                                         C.                                                             TG 53       30             minutes                                               TG 453                60 minutes                                               TG 456                >120 minutes                                             TG 457                >120 minutes                                             TG 479                <10 minutes                                              TG 631                <20 minutes                                            ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 5 Delignification activities

Delignification capacity of the xylanases was determined with two different methods. Using the A300 method the amount of lignin released from the pulp after enzyme treatment is estimated. Using the kappa assay the remaining lignin content of pulp after treatment is measured.

Method 1: A300 test

To measure delignification with the A300 assay enzyme preparations were incubated with soft- or hardwood pulp at a concentration of 2 PAHBAH units per g of wet pulp (about 6 PAHBAH units/g of dry pulp). Incubations were performed for 2 hours at 80° C. both at pH 6.0 in MOPS buffer, and at pH 9.0 in TAPS buffer. Pulp concentration in the incubation was 0.1 g wet weight per ml. Two different types of pulp were used: Kraft softwood pulp after oxygen delignification, and Kraft hardwood pulp after oxygen delignification. Properties of these pulps are given in Table 6.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         properties of the pulp types used in the delignification experiments                                   Softwood                                                                        Hardwood 80% spruce, 20%                                birch pine                                                                   ______________________________________                                             Brightness, % ISO                                                                         50.8     35.8                                                     Kappa number            11.0             16.7                                  Viscosity, dm.sup.3 /kg      979                1003                           Calcium; ppm           1900               2600                                 Copper, ppm             0.3                0.6                                 Iron, ppm               5.1                11                                  Magnesium, ppm         210                270                                  Manganese, ppm          25             70                                    ______________________________________                                    

The amount of lignin that was removed from the pulp was determined by measuring the absorbance of the supernatant at 300 nm, after separating the supernatant from the pulp by filtration by suction through a Whatman GF/C filter supported on a sintered glass filter. The results of the A300-test are shown in Table 7. In this assay, Delta A300 values of ≧0.2 are significantly higher than background levels. Therefore, this example shows that the enzymes possess a significant delignifying activity at 80° C.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         A300 delignification measured at 80° C.,  pH 6.0 and 9.0, on soft-        and hardwood                                                                        Delta A300                                                                                 Hardwood Softwood                                           Strain pH 6.0   pH 9.0  %*    pH 6.0 pH 9.0                                                                               %*                                  ______________________________________                                             TG 53                                                                             0.7      0.5     71    0.6    0.35  58                                    TG 453  1.0     0.3    30      0.7    0.3     43                               TG 456  1.0     0.3    30      0.6    0.6     100                              TG 457  1.0     0.7    70      1.0    0.5     50                               TG 479  0.9     0.16   18      0.8    0.6     75                               TG 631  1.2     0.7    58      0.8    0.7     88                             ______________________________________                                          *Percentage of the activity at pH 9 as compared to pH 6                  

Method 2: the Kappa test

The kappa tests were performed according to TAPPI protocol T236 (available from TAPPI, Technology Park, Atlanta, USA), with some modifications. The enzyme preparation was added at a dose of 10 xU/g pulp (dry weight), and incubated for 2 hours at pH 9, 80° C. As a control pulp was incubated for the same period under the same conditions without enzyme addition. Oxygen delignified softwood pulp was used, for properties see Table 6.

The difference between the kappanumber with enzyme addition and the kappanumber without enzyme addition is called the kappa reduction, and is a value for delignification. The kappa reductions are shown in Table 8. In this assay, values of ≧0.5 are significantly higher than background levels. Therefore, as in the previous example, this example shows that the enzymes possess a significant delignifying activity at 80° C.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         delignification as measured by kappa reduction, determined on                      softwood pulp, pH 9 and 80° C.                                                Strain                                                                               Kappa reduction                                                ______________________________________                                           TG 453    1.0                                                                  TG 456                        1.3                                              TG 457                         1.4                                             TG 479                         1.0                                             TG 631                         0.5                                           ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 6 Cloning and sequence determination of internal consensus fragments of genes encoding thermostable F-type xylanases

6.1. PCR amplification of internal fragments of xylanase genes

Three PCR primers were used to amplify internal consensus fragments of xylanase genes: two different forward primers (xynFA, {5' CAC ACK CTK GTK TGG CA 3', SEQ ID NO 1} and xynFB {5' CAT ACK TTK GTT TGG CA 3', SEQ ID NO 2) and one reverse primer (xynR {TMG TTK ACM ACR TCC CA, SEQ ID NO 3}). The xynFA and xynFB primers bound at the same location, but differed slightly in sequence due to slight differences in the sequence of xylanase genes at the forward consensus region. PCR conditions were as follows: (94° C. 1 minute, 50° C. 1 minute, 72° C. 1 minute)×30. All family F internal consensus fragments were approximately 350 bp.

6.2. Sequence determination of the PCR products

All internal xylanase PCR-products (ca. 350bp) were end-repaired (back-filled) as described below prior to cloning into the Smal (phosphatased) site of the M13 mp 10 sequencing vector.

Step 1--Ammonium acetate precipitation

(a) make up 50 μl PCR mixture to 100 μl with TE buffer (10 mM

Tris-Cl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0). (b) add 100 μI 4M CH₃ COO-NH₄ ⁺ and 250 μl 100% CH₃ CH₂ OH. (c) incubate on ice for 15 minutes (or overnight at -20° C.). (d). centrifuge at 16 000 rpm for 15 minutes and discard supernatant (e) wash pellet in 500 μl cold 70% CH₃ CH₂ OH. Re-centrifuge (16 000 rpm 5') and discard supernatant. (f) dry pellet under vacuum for 5 minutes and resuspend in 20 μl TE buffer.

Step 2--End-repair of PCR fragments

(a) to 20 μl of precipitated DNA add: 3 μl 10 x Ligase buffer

(Boehringer Mannheim), 1 μl 12.5 mM dNTP's (Pharmacia DNA polymerisation mixture), 0.5 μl (5U) E. coli DNA polymerase large (Kienow) fragment (BRL technologies Ltd), 0.25 μl (2.5U) T4 DNA polymerase (Boehringer Mannheim), 0.25 μl (2.5U) T4 polynucleotide kinase (Boehringer Mannheim) and H₂ O up to 30 μl. (b) incubate at 37° C. for 30 minutes and heat-kill enzymes by incubating at 70° C. for 10 minutes.

Step 3--Gel-purification of the end-repaired xylanase fragment

(a) run DNA through 2% LMP agarose in 1x Tris-acetate buffer (pH 7.8). (b) excise the 350 bp xylanase band from the agarose. (c) purify the DNA from the agarose slice using the GeneClean®) procedure (Bio101 Inc.).

Step 4--Ligation into M13mp10 (Smal-phosphatased)

(a) mix 1 μl M13mp10 vector DNA (appropriately diluted to ca. 10 ng/μl), 20-50 ng insert DNA (xylanase consensus primer fragment), 1 μl 10x ligase buffer (Boehringer Mannheim), 1 μl T4 DNA ligase (Boehringer Mannheim), and H20 up to 10 μl.

(b) incubate overnight at room temperature.

Step 5--Transformation of ligation mixture into Escherichia coli strain JM101:

(a) transform JM101 with the entire 10 μl ligation mixture using the DMSO-mediated transformation technique of Chung et al. (1989. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 86: 2172-2175.). (b) Plate the M13/JM101, and isolate recombinant M13 plasmids using standard procedures (Sambrook et al. 1989 Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press).

Recombinant M13 phage containing internal xylanase consensus fragments were sequenced from ssDNA (Sambrooket at al. 1989) on an Applied Biosystems 373A automated DNA sequencer using dye-primer chemistry (sequencing primer used was the universal M13 forward {dye-labelled} primer, ABI Ltd). All, DNA sequence data were analysed and manipulated using the G C G sequence analysis software (installed on Irix) run on a Silicon Graphics Personal Iris Workstation.

Family F xylanase internal fragment sequence results

Based on the PCR fragments which were amplified from the six strains depicted in Table 1 using the xylanase consensus primers, it was predicted that each organism contained between 1 to 3 family F xylanase genes. The results have been analysed via the well known boot-strap analysis (Wisconsin Molecular Biology Package, Devereux, 1984, Nucleic. Acids Res. 12, 387-394). In FIG. 1 a dendogram of the various xylanases and strains is shown. From the nucleotide sequences of the family F consensus fragments, it now appears that each organism will contain three different family F genes. Each of the family F xylanase genes of each organism belongs to a separate xylanase cluster (based on nucleotide and primary amino acid sequence homologies), now designated as cluster A, cluster 8 and cluster C. The full-length xylanase amplified from TG 456 belongs to cluster A, and has subsequently been named TG 456 xynA. In addition, an internal consensus fragments from a TG 456 cluster B xylanase (TG 456 xynB) and a cluster C xylanase (TG 456 xync) have been identified.

EXAMPLE 7

Cloning and sequence determination of internal consensus fragments of genes encoding thermostable G-type xylanases

7.1 PCR amplification of internal fragments of G-type xylanase genes

The Family G internal consensus fragments (ICFs) were isolated with the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), using the forward and reverse family G consensus primers (GF and GR). The PCR profile was as follows:

n.b. °C. refers to degrees celsius.

refers to the number of cycles (i.e. x1 equals ONE cycle)

(94° C., 4 minutes) x 1

(94° C., 1 minute;. 45° C., 1 minute; 72° C., 1 minute) x 35 (94° C., 1 minute;

45° C., 1 minute; 72° C., 6 minute) x 1

The PCRs were performed in 50 uL reactions using the following ingredients: 100 ng GF primer; 100 ng GR primer; 0.25 mM dNTPs; 1 Unit Taq Polymerase; 0.25 mM MgCl2; 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.8; 50 mM KCl; 0.001% Gelatin; 1-10 ng template DNA.

Two PCR primers were used to amplify consensus fragments of xylanase genes:

GF: TATNTGRSTNTMTATGGWTGG (forward internal consensus primer) SEQ ID NO 4.

GR: CCGCTNCTTTGGTANCCTTC (reverse internal consensus primer) SEQ ID NO 5.

With all six strains a PCR fragment was found upon amplification with the consensus primers.

Two species of PCR-products (DNA fragments) were amplified: a 300 bp fragment of the expected size, plus an unexpected 600 bp PCR-product this 600 bp fragment was a head-to-tail dimer of the 300 bp PCR-product; presumably this 600 bp species was a result of self-priming during the PCR reactions, as a consequence of homology between the Gr and GR primers.

7.2 Sequence determination of the PCR products

The 300 bp fragments amplified from each organism were end-repaired (see example 6).

The end-repaired fragments were then purified from a 1% low melting temperature agarose gel (run in Tris-acetate running buffer) using the Geneclean (Bio 101, La Jolla, Calif.) procedure.

Approximately 10 ng of the end-repaired and gel-purified 300 ICFs were ligated into the Smal site of M13mp10 using BM T4 DNA ligase, in 10 uL reactions.

7.3 Sequence determination of the PCR products

Six independent phages originating from strains TG457 and TG53 were sequenced. It appears from the alignments (FIG. 2) that only a single G-type xylanase gene is present in each of these strains. In addition M13 mp 10 recombinants containing family G ICFs from TG453, TG456, TG479 and TG631 were sequenced. These organisms contained all a family G xylanase gene encoding an essentially identical xylanase, although variations in the DNA sequence are up to 13%.

EXAMPLE 8

Sequence of full-length F-type xylanases

On the basis of the internal PCR fragments 3 different type of F-xylanase genes have been identified: xynA, xynB and xynC. Using Genome Walking PCR (GWPRCR) full length xylanase genes have been isolated from most of the strains.

Full length sequences of the TG456 xynA gene have been determined. The complete sequence of the xyna gene is given in SEQ ID NO 6. The encoded amino acid sequence of the TG456 xylanase A is provided in SEQ ID NO 7.

For xynS and xynC it was discovered that the genes encode multi-domain enzymes, with one xylanase domain. These xylanase domains have been subcloned using PCR primers designed on sequences at the border of the xylanase domain.

The partial sequence information for the xynB and xynC genes originating from TG456 are given in SEQ ID NO 8 and SEQ ID NO 10, respectively. The encoded amino acid sequences of the TG456 xylanases B and C are given in SEQ ID NO 9 and SEQ ID NO 11, respectively.

EXAMPLE 9 Complete sequence of G-type xylanase genes

Using Genome Walking PCR (GWPRCR) the full length xynd genes have been isolated from most of the strains.

The complete sequence for the xynD gene of TG456 is given in SEQ ID NO 12 and the encoded TG456 xylanase D amino acid sequence is provided in SEQ ID NO 13.

EXAMPLE 10 Construction of expression vectors and hosts for xylanase production from cloned genes

In the consensus PCR primers appropriate restriction sites have been designed, which allow the subcloning of xylanase genes in suitable expression vectors.

The xynA and xynC genes are inserted Ncol-BamHl into the pJLA602 expression vector [Schauder, B., Blucker, H., Frank, R., and McCarthy, J. E. G. (1987). Inducible Expression Vectors Incorporating the Escherichia coli atpE Transcriptional Initiation Region. Gene 52: 279-283.]) for in-frame fusion with the lambda L and R promoters [Gibbs, M. G, Saul D. J, Luthi, E., and Bergquist, P. L. (1992). The beta-mannanase from "Caldocellum saccharolyticum" is Part of a Multidomain Enzyme. AppI. Environ. Microbiol. 58 (12): 3864-3867.]

XynB and xynD genes were inserted into the unique SphI-BamHI sites of pJLA602.

Constructs were transferred into the hosts E.coli JM101 and E.coli DHSα using standard transformation techniques.

FIG. 3 shows the sequence of the xylanase domain of xynD from TG456 inserted in pJLA602 as a SphI-BamHI fragment.

EXAMPLE 11 Production and recovery of cloned xylanases

In order to obtain protein samples from the cloned F-type xylanases the E.coli clones were fermented in a 10.0 liter capacity LH fermenter (series 210). The culture was maintained at 30° C. until induction (42° C.) with continuous aeration (4.8 liters/min), agitation (500 rpm) and pH control (pH 7.1). The media used and other additions are given below:

    ______________________________________                                          Luria Broth (for inoculum cultures):                                                     Tryptone       10      g                                              Yeast Extract                          5 g                                     NaCl                                   10 g                                    Water                                  to 1000 ml                                BGM2 bulk growth medium for fermenter runs (quantities are for final             medium, i.e. 2 batches of 8.5 liters):                                           NH.sub.4 Cl       3.22    g                                                                               KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4                                                                        1.05 g                              MgSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 C                             0.135 g                      K.sub.2 SO.sub.4                                  0.043 g                      FeSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 0                          0.003 g                         SL-10 Trace Elements                    1 ml                                   Tryptone                               10  g                                   Yeast Extract                          4.7 g                                   Glycerol                               34 ml                                   Water                  to 1000 ml                                            ______________________________________                                    

After the fermenter vessel, with approximately 6 liters of water in it, was sterilized by autoclaving at 121° C. for 30 minutes, it was cooled to 30° C. The media concentrate (8.5 fold concentrate) was pumped through a sterile 0.2 μm cartridge filter (Sartorius). Prior to inoculation the following additions were made:

    ______________________________________                                          Antifoam (Bevaloid 5901)                                                                          10 ml (autoclaved)                                           CaCl.sub.2 (17 mg/ml stock)                  1 ml (autoclaved)                 Ampicillin                              850 mg (filter sterilized)                                Thiamine (JM101 cultures only)          8.7 mg                                (filter sterilized)                                        ______________________________________                                    

The liquid volume was then adjusted to. 8.5 liters. The pH of the media was adjusted to 7.1. Filter-sterilized air was sparged through the fermenter at a flow rate of 4.8 liters per minute. The fermenter temperature was held at 30° C. by hot and cold water circulation through finger probes. pH control was by addition of autoclaved NaOH (5M) or H₄ SO₄ (2M). The fermenter stirrer speed was 500 rpm.

Inoculation was initiated with an aliquot (approximately 10.0 ml) of a fresh culture of the E.coli clone grown in Luria Broth with 100 μg/mi ampicillin at an OD₆₅₀ of 0.2 to 0.4. The cells were grown to an OD₆₅₀ of between 11 and 13 at 30° C., then they fed-batched with a medium concentrate, allowed to recover and grown to an OD₆₅₀ of between 14 and 16. They were subsequently induced by raising the temperature to 42° C.

The cells were harvested 4 hours after maximum OD₆₅₀ was reached. The cells were recovered by hollow fibre filtration (0.1 μm, Amicon) and resuspended in 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 7.5 mM EDTA, 7.5 mM β-mercaptoethanol, 0.02% PMSF, 1.0 μM pepstatin A, 0.02% DNase and 0.02% lysozyme and incubated at 4° C. for 1 hour (total volume of approximately 1 liter). The cells were sonicated on ice in 160 ml batches for 4-6 minutes in one minute blasts until lysed (monitored by microscopys). An aliquot of 56 mM PMSF (in isopropanol) was added (each addition equivalent to 160 μM) for each two minutes of sonication to a final concentration of no more than 1 mM PMSF. After lysis was complete, cell debris was removed by centrifugation. The supernatant was heat treated at 70° C. until obvious precipitation of protein occurred (usually about 20-30 minutes) and the denatured protein was removed by centrifugation. Prior to phenyl-sepharose chromatography, ammonium sulphate was added to the heat-treated supernatant to a final concentration of 1.0M (this is termed the 1° heat treatment extract). The cell pellet derived from the sonicated cells was re-extracted by suspension in 1.0 liter of 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 5 mM EDTA, 7 mM β-mercaptoethanol, followed by a second heat treatment at 70° C. for 15 minutes and the precipitated protein was again removed by centrifugation. This was found to extract an additional 20-40% of the xylanase and was termed 2° heat treatment extract. Ammonium sulphate was added to this 2° heat treatment extract to 1.0M and the 10 and 2° heat treatment extracts were pooled prior to phenyl-sepharose separation. Xylanase activity was step-eluted from the 1100 ml bed volume phenyl-sepharose column (after extensive washing with 1.0M ammonium sulphate and return to baseline) using 1.0M NaCl and the eluted protein was concentrated and desalted by ultrafiltration with a YM3 membrane (Amico). The final concentration of the preparations are 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 5 mM EDTA, 7 mM β-mercaptoethanol, approximately 250 mM NaCl, 20% glycerol and 0.05% sodium azide.

For production of the G-type xylanases the method was nearly identical to that described above except that HEPES buffer was used in place of TrisHCl for both the extraction (pH 8.0) and the desalting (pH 7.3) steps. The final preparation had a buffer composition of 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.3, 1 mM EDTA, 7 mM β-meraptoethanol, 0.05% sodium Azide, 20.0% glycerol and ±250 mM NaCl.

In total 6 F-type preparations (5 xynA and 1 xynB) and 2 G-type preparation of sufficient purity were obtained. For both the F-type and, the G-type preparation the protein concentration was determined by the standard BCA method (Pierce, Rockford, Ill., USA). The purity of the samples was roughly estimated by running an SDS-PAGE gel (Phast-system, Pharmacia, 20% gel) and comparing the thickness of the band at about 40 kDa for the F-type, and about 25 kDa for the G-type with the thickness of the bands of the impurities. The purity of the samples varied between 20 and 70% (Table 9).

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Purity of F-type and G-type xylanase preparations                                      Enzyme       Purity (%)                                                ______________________________________                                         TG53 xynA        30                                                              TG53 xynD (G-type)             20                                              TG456 xynA                     70                                              TG456 xynD (G-type)            30                                              TG457 xynA                     70                                              TG479 xynA                     70                                              TG631 xynA                     70                                              TG631 xynB                    20                                             ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 12 ECF bleaching results with cloned F- and G-type xylanases

ECF-bleaching was performed using oxygen delignified Kraft pulp from a Swedish pulp mill. The softwood (SW) pulp had a kappa number of 16.0 and the hardwood (HW) pulp a kappa number of 10.6. A XDED-sequence was used under conditions as presented in Table 10.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Bleaching conditions                                                             STAGE     X         D.sub.0  E       D.sub.1                                 ______________________________________                                         Cons    10%       10%        10%     10%                                         Time        120 min      60 min       60 min     120 min.                      Temp         65° C.        60° C.         60° C.                                                  70° C.                          pH           9          ≅ 2.5     ≅    10                                                     ≅      3.5                        Chemical     15 μg xyl. chlorine mul-  NaOH:       aCl.sub.2 :                                                  Dosage      protein/   tiple: 0.15                                             7.2 kg/t    10 kg/t                                   g pulp                   (SW)         (S/HW)                                                             5.9 kg/t                                                                     (HW)                                      ______________________________________                                               X =  enzyme, D.sub.0, D.sub.1 =  chlorine dioxide, E =  extraction        with NaOH.                                                               

The results of these experiments are presented in Table 11. It can be seen that the G-type xylanases perform significantly better as compared with the F-type xylanases, when compared on the basis of enzyme protein.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         ECF bleaching with cloned F- and G-type xylanases.                                                 Delta brightness                                              (% ISO)                                                                       Enzyme SW HW                                                                 ______________________________________                                         TG53xynA        1.0.sup.2)    1.2.sup.5                                          TG53xynD (G-type)            5.9.sup.3) /6.8.sup.4)         3.0.sup.6)                                      TG456xynA               1.2.sup.1)                                            /0.7.sup.2)      1.0.sup.5)                        TG456xynD (G-type)          4.3.sup.3) /5.9.sup.4)        4.0.sup.5)                                       /2.1.sup.6)                                        TG457xynA                    0.sup.1) 0.sup.6)                                 TG479xynA                    0.3.sup.2)0.3.sup.5)                              TG631xynA                    0.sup.1) 0.sup.6)                                 TG631xynB                    0.sup.2) --                                     ______________________________________                                          .sup.1)-6)    refer to six separate experiments. The reference ISO             brightness values of these experiments were as follows: expt 1: 73.5; exp      2: 78.3; expt 3: 52.0;    expt 4: 52.3; expt 5: 79:0; expt 6: 80.5.      

EXAMPLE 13 ECF dose-response curves with cloned G-type xylanases

Using the same XDED bleaching sequence as described in Example 12 the dosage of the two G-type xylanases was varied. The results are shown in Table 12. Dosages of 1 to 3 μg/g pulp already give an increase in ISO brightness of at least two points.

                                      TABLE 12                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Dose-response curves of two G-type xylanases                                         dosage                                                                             Brightness HW                                                                           Brightness SW                                                 (μg xyl/ (XDED) (XDED)                                                    Enzyme                                                                               g pulp)                                                                            % ISO                                                                              Δ % ISO                                                                       % ISO                                                                              Δ % ISO                                                                       % ISO                                                                              Δ % ISO                                  __________________________________________________________________________     TG456 xynD                                                                           0   78.5                                                                               --   55.85                                                                              --   62.92                                                                              --                                                                    1      80.73    2.23     56.80    0.95     65.73                                         2.81                                                                 3      81.03    2.53     58.06    2.21     68.12                                         5.20                                                                 6      80.99    2.49     59.20    3.35     68.32                                         5.40                                                                15                                          70.45                                         7.53                                            TG3 xynD      0       78.5     --    55.85     --    66.75         --                                                              1      79.73                                             1.23     57.28    1.43     69.04    2.29                                                             3      80.13                                             1.63     57.87    2.02     69.35    2.60                                                             6      81.32                                             2.82     58.23    2.38     69.92    3.17                                                            15                                                                               72.39    5.64           __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 14 TCF bleaching results with cloned G-type xylanases

The two G-type xylanases were tested in a TCF bleaching sequence using the XQPP sequence as described in Example 15 (below). Oxygen delignified hardwood kraftpulp was used (30 g o.d. per sample). The dosage of the G-type xylanases was varied as indicated in Table 13. ISO brightness values obtained for each sample after X, P1 and P2 stages are given in Table 13. The value represent the average of duplicate samples.

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         TCF bleaching - dose response experiment with G-type xylanases.                             dosage (μg                                                        protein/ X P1 P2                                                              Sample g. pulp) brightness brightness brightness                             ______________________________________                                         Control  0         50.3      79.5    81.0                                        TG456 xynD       15        53.8            81.8              84.3                                                                      6         52.9                                                      81.0              83.8                                                TG53 xynD      15        55.2                                                      82.2              85.1                                         6         53.6            82.7                       ______________________________________                                                                              85.1                                 

The experiment was repeated using dosages of 3 and 6 μg protein per g pulp. Only the brightness values obtained after the P2 stage were determined. Results are presented in Table 14.

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         TCF bleaching - dose response experiment with G-type xylanases                                  dosage (μg                                                   Sample                         protein/g pulp)   P2 brightness               ______________________________________                                         Control      0          84.5                                                     TG466 xynD           6                85.5                                               3                86.5                                                TG53 xynD           6                86.1                                               3                86.8                                               ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 15

ECF and TCF results, including paper properties

Xylanase samples were tested for bleaching effect in ECF & TCF bleaching of a Kraft H/W and a Kraft S/W pulp supplied from a Swedish pulp mill. The cloned TG456 xynD and TG53 xynD (in this Example referred to as 715 and 716, respectively) are compared with "no-enzyme" reference samples. The refining tests in a Lampen ball mill showed that 715 gave the overall best performance with considerable improvements in Tear Index and no significant loss in Tensile and Burst Indices.

Screening Protocol

    ______________________________________                                                  Hardwood                                                                               Softwood                                                      ______________________________________                                         1. TCF Ref                                                                               QPP         1. TCF Ref                                                                               QPP                                              2. Enz 715      XQPP           2. Enz 715      XQPP                            3. Enz 716        XQPP           3. Enz 716        XQPP                        4. ECF Ref      No X DEDED     4. ECF Ref      No X DEDED                      5. Enz 715      XDEDED         5. Enz 715      XDEDED                          6. Enz 716     XDEDED         6. Enz 716     XDEDED                            7. Chem Ref     DEDED          7. Chem Ref     DEDED                         ______________________________________                                         Unbleached pulp properties                                                                              % ISO Bright-                                                                           Viscosity                                      Pulp      Kappa No                                ness                                                         dm.sup. /kg                                  ______________________________________                                           Kraft H/W     10.8         53             1104                                 Kraft S/W     16.1         36.4            1003                              ______________________________________                                         Bleaching parameters to be tested                                                     % ISO                                                                               Chemical                   Paper                                     Brightness   consumption   Kappa No Viscosity                                                                       Strength                                ______________________________________                                          TCF                                                                                After X                                                                               XQP        XQPP    XQPP    XQPP                                      XQP         XQPP                                                               XQPP                                                                             ECF                                                                           AfterX   XDE        XDE     XDEDED  XDEDED                                    XDE         XDED                                                               XDED       XDEDED                                                              XDEDED                                                                       ______________________________________                                         Bleaching conditions                                                             A)   TCF H/W & S/W (Same bleaching conditions for both pulps)                             Stage                                                                             X      Q         P     P                                       ______________________________________                                           Consistency (%)        10           9           10            10                                                     Time (mins)          120      5*4                                             secs in     180           180                                                     mixer                                  Temp. (° C.)           65          65           85            85        pH               9           4-5        10.5-11      10.5-11                   Enz Charge           3  -- -- --                                               EDTA Charge         --            3     -- --                                  (kg/t)                                                                         NaOH Charge         -- -- 20            10                                     (kg/t)                                                                         H.sub.2 O.sub.2 Charge  -- -- 20            10                                 (kg/t)                                                                       ______________________________________                                         B) ECF H/W                                                                                  X      Stage                                                                          D       E      D     E    D                                ______________________________________                                           Consistency     10         10          10         10         10                                                            10                                 (%)                                                                            Time (mins)     120       60      60        120        60         180                                                       Temp (° C.)                                                            65      60          60                                                            70         60         70        pH          9          2-3 ˜11.5 2.5-3 ˜11.5 4-5                   Enz Charge      3          -- --  --  -- --                                    (μg/g)                                                                      aCl Charge      --      0.18* -- 18 -- 8                                       (kg/t)    Kappa =                                                              19.4 for                                                                                     X ref & all                                                        X's                                                                            21.6 for                                                                       Chem Ref                                                                     NaOH    -- -- 11.6 for X --   10 --                                            Charge                                ref & all                                (kg/t)   X's                                                                      13 for                                                                         Chem Ref                                                                  ______________________________________                                         C) ECF S/W                                                                                  X      Stage                                                                          D       E      D     E    D                                ______________________________________                                           Consistency     10         10          10         10         10                                                            10                                 (%)                                                                            Time (mins)     120       60      60        120        60         180                                                       Temp (° C.)                                                            65      60          60                                                            70         60         70        pH          9          2-3 ˜11.5 2.5-3 ˜11.5 4-5                   Enz Charge      3          -- --  --  -- --                                    (μg/g)                                                                      aCl Charge      --      0.18* -- 18 -- 8                                       (kg/t)    Kappa =                                                              28.8 for                                                                                     X ref & all                                                        X's                                                                            32 for                                                                         Chem Ref                                                                     NaOH    -- -- 17.3 for X --   10 --                                            Charge                                ref & all                                (kg/t)   X's                                                                      19.2 for                                                                       Chem Ref                                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The results obtained in the above experiments are present in Tables 15 (Hardwood) and 16 (Softwood).

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         A summary of the Hardwood bleaching results                                      Hardwood                                                                     ______________________________________                                                 P2 %     P2                                                               ISO Kappa P2 Visc Total P                                                   ______________________________________                                           TCF Ref 78.4 6.7 866 25.2                                                      TCF 715 81 6.2 850 26.1 ++-                                                    TCF 716 81.7 6.2 740 27.7 ++-                                                ______________________________________                                            D2 % XDE                                                                       ISO Kappa D2 Visc Total aCl                                                 ______________________________________                                           ECF Ref 88.6 4.6 1050 46.1                                                     ECF 715 89.1 4.5 1035 44.8 ++-+                                                ECF 716 88.6 4.6 1040 45 00-+                                                  Chem Ref 88.6 4.9 1020 47                                                    ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 16                                                         ______________________________________                                         A summary of the Softwood bleaching results.                                           Softwood                                                               ______________________________________                                                 P2 %     P2                                                               ISO Kappa P2 Visc Total P                                                   ______________________________________                                           TCF Ref       69.1       7.3      814     18.5                                 TCF 715      72.1       6.7     805  16 ++-+                                   TCF 716        71        6.7      833     16.7 +++                               D2 % XDE                                                                      ISO Kappa D2 Visc Total aCl                                                 ______________________________________                                           ECF Ref      85.5       4.6      941     54.5                                  ECF 715     86.5       4.4      935     54.4    ++-0                           ECF 716     86.7       4.3      935     54.5    ++-0                           Chem Ref     87.5       3.7      962     57.3                                ______________________________________                                    

Verification of paper Properties

After all the sequences were fully bleached, 30 g samples were taken and refined in a Lampen ball mill for 10, 20 and 30 thousand revolutions. Schopper-Rieglers were measured, after which approximately 2 g sheets were made for Tensile Index, Porosity, Tear Index and Burst Index. The sheets were left to condition for 24 hours at 23° C. and 50% relative humidity. The results obtained are presented in FIGS. 4 to 8.

EXAMPLE 16 pH optimum, temperature optimum and thermostability of TG456 xynD

Activities were measured as described in Example 2, procedure 1, with oat spelt xylane as substrate. All assays were performed in 50 mM phosphate buffer, at the pH and temperature as indicated. The results are presented in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The TG456 xylanase D is much more thermostable than the reference enzyme Pulpzyme HB (Novo Nordisk), and it has a slightly higher pH optimum

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                    - -  - - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                              - -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 13                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 17 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -    (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                    - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: - #xynFA                                      - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #1:                            - - CACACKCTKG TKTGGCA             - #                  - #                       - #   17                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 17 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -    (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                    - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: - #xynFB                                      - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #2:                            - - CATACKTTKG TTTGGCA             - #                  - #                       - #   17                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 17 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -    (iii) ANTI-SENSE: YES                                                   - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: - #xynR                                       - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #3:                            - - TMGTTKACMA CRTCCCA             - #                  - #                       - #   17                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 4:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 21 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -    (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                    - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: - #GF                                         - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #4:                            - - TATNTGRSTN TMTATGGWTG G           - #                  - #                       - #21                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 5:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -    (iii) ANTI-SENSE: YES                                                   - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: - #GR                                         - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #5:                            - - CCGCTNCTTT GGTANCCTTC            - #                  - #                       - # 20                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 6:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1065 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -    (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                    - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (A) ORGANISM: Extremophile                                                     (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: - #TG456                                      - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 3..1058                                                          (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/product= "xylanase A"                                    /gene= - #"xynA"                                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #6:                            - - CC ATG GAC CTT TAT TCA ATC TCA GAT GAA AAT - # TGG GGG CAG CCT GTG             47                                                                           Met Asp Leu Tyr Ser Ile Ser Asp Glu - #Asn Trp Gly Gln Pro Val                   1             - #  5                - #  10                - #  15         - - CCT GAT TAT AAA CTG CCA TCA CTT TGT GAA AA - #G TAC AAA AAC TAT TTC            95                                                                        Pro Asp Tyr Lys Leu Pro Ser Leu Cys Glu Ly - #s Tyr Lys Asn Tyr Phe                             20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - AAG ATT GGA GTT GCT GTG CCC TAC AGG GCT CT - #G ACA AAT CCA GTT GAT           143                                                                        Lys Ile Gly Val Ala Val Pro Tyr Arg Ala Le - #u Thr Asn Pro Val Asp                         35     - #             40     - #             45                   - - GTG GAG ATG ATA AAA AGG CAT TTC AAC AGC AT - #A ACA CCG GAG AAC GAG           191                                                                        Val Glu Met Ile Lys Arg His Phe Asn Ser Il - #e Thr Pro Glu Asn Glu                     50         - #         55         - #         60                       - - ATG AAA CCA GAG AGC CTT CAG CCT TAT GAA GG - #T GGT TTT AGC TTT AGC           239                                                                        Met Lys Pro Glu Ser Leu Gln Pro Tyr Glu Gl - #y Gly Phe Ser Phe Ser                 65             - #     70             - #     75                           - - ATT GCA GAT GAG TAT ATA GAT TTT TGC AAA AA - #G AAC AAT ATC TCA CTG           287                                                                        Ile Ala Asp Glu Tyr Ile Asp Phe Cys Lys Ly - #s Asn Asn Ile Ser Leu             80                 - # 85                 - # 90                 - # 95        - - CGA GGG CAC ACK CTT GTT TGG CAT CAG CAA AC - #C CCG AGC TGG TTC TTT           335                                                                        Arg Gly His Thr Leu Val Trp His Gln Gln Th - #r Pro Ser Trp Phe Phe                            100  - #               105  - #               110               - - ACA AAT CCT GAG ACG GGC GAA AAA CTT ACT AA - #C AGT GAG AAG GAC AAG           383                                                                        Thr Asn Pro Glu Thr Gly Glu Lys Leu Thr As - #n Ser Glu Lys Asp Lys                        115      - #           120      - #           125                   - - RAA ATA CTA TTG GAT AGG CTA AAG AAG CAC AT - #C CAG ACA GTT GTT GGC           431                                                                        Xaa Ile Leu Leu Asp Arg Leu Lys Lys His Il - #e Gln Thr Val Val Gly                    130          - #       135          - #       140                       - - AGG TAT AAG GGG AAA GTA TAT GCA TGG GAC GT - #T GTG AAT GAG GCG ATT           479                                                                        Arg Tyr Lys Gly Lys Val Tyr Ala Trp Asp Va - #l Val Asn Glu Ala Ile                145              - #   150              - #   155                           - - GAT GAG AAT CAG CCG GAT GGG TAT AGA AGA AG - #T GAC TGG TAC AAT ATC           527                                                                        Asp Glu Asn Gln Pro Asp Gly Tyr Arg Arg Se - #r Asp Trp Tyr Asn Ile            160                 1 - #65                 1 - #70                 1 -       #75                                                                               - - TTR GGA CCG GAG TAC ATT GAA AAG GCA TTT AT - #C TGG GCG CAT GAA         GCA      575                                                                     Xaa Gly Pro Glu Tyr Ile Glu Lys Ala Phe Il - #e Trp Ala His Glu Ala                           180  - #               185  - #               190               - - GAC CCG AAA GCA AAG CTT TTC TAC AAT GAC TA - #C AGT ACA GAA GAM CCA           623                                                                        Asp Pro Lys Ala Lys Leu Phe Tyr Asn Asp Ty - #r Ser Thr Glu Xaa Pro                        195      - #           200      - #           205                   - - TAT AAA AGA GGG AAT TTA TAT ACA CTA ATT AA - #A AAY TTA AAA GCM AAA           671                                                                        Tyr Lys Arg Gly Asn Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ile Ly - #s Asn Leu Lys Ala Lys                    210          - #       215          - #       220                       - - GGT GTG CCA GTT CAT GGT GTT GGG CTT CAG TG - #T CAT ATT TCA CTT GAC           719                                                                        Gly Val Pro Val His Gly Val Gly Leu Gln Cy - #s His Ile Ser Leu Asp                225              - #   230              - #   235                           - - TGG CCG GAT GTG AGT GAA ATC GAG GAG ACT GT - #C AAA TTA TTT AGC AGG           767                                                                        Trp Pro Asp Val Ser Glu Ile Glu Glu Thr Va - #l Lys Leu Phe Ser Arg            240                 2 - #45                 2 - #50                 2 -       #55                                                                               - - ATT CCA GGA CTT GAA ATA CAC TTC ACA GAA AT - #T GAT ATA AGT ATT         GCT      815                                                                     Ile Pro Gly Leu Glu Ile His Phe Thr Glu Il - #e Asp Ile Ser Ile Ala                           260  - #               265  - #               270               - - AAA AAC ATG ACC GAT GAT GAT GCA TAT AAC CG - #C TAT CTT TTG ATT CAG           863                                                                        Lys Asn Met Thr Asp Asp Asp Ala Tyr Asn Ar - #g Tyr Leu Leu Ile Gln                        275      - #           280      - #           285                   - - CAG GCA CAA AAA TTA AAA GCA ATT TTT GAT GT - #T TTG AAA AAG TAC AGA           911                                                                        Gln Ala Gln Lys Leu Lys Ala Ile Phe Asp Va - #l Leu Lys Lys Tyr Arg                    290          - #       295          - #       300                       - - AAT GTA GTT ACA AGT GTT ACA TTC TGG GGA CT - #G AAG GAT GAT TAC TCA           959                                                                        Asn Val Val Thr Ser Val Thr Phe Trp Gly Le - #u Lys Asp Asp Tyr Ser                305              - #   310              - #   315                           - - TGG CTA CGG GGA GAT ATG CCA CTT TTA TTC GA - #T AAA GAC TAC CAG CCA          1007                                                                        Trp Leu Arg Gly Asp Met Pro Leu Leu Phe As - #p Lys Asp Tyr Gln Pro            320                 3 - #25                 3 - #30                 3 -       #35                                                                               - - AAG TTT GCG TTC TGG AGC TTA ATT GAC CCA TC - #A GTT GTC CCA AAA         GAG     1055                                                                     Lys Phe Ala Phe Trp Ser Leu Ile Asp Pro Se - #r Val Val Pro Lys Glu                           340  - #               345  - #               350               - - TAATGGATCC                - #                  - #                       - #      1065                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 7:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 351 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #7:                            - - Met Asp Leu Tyr Ser Ile Ser Asp Glu Asn Tr - #p Gly Gln Pro Val Pro         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Asp Tyr Lys Leu Pro Ser Leu Cys Glu Lys Ty - #r Lys Asn Tyr Phe Lys                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Ile Gly Val Ala Val Pro Tyr Arg Ala Leu Th - #r Asn Pro Val Asp Val                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Glu Met Ile Lys Arg His Phe Asn Ser Ile Th - #r Pro Glu Asn Glu Met            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Lys Pro Glu Ser Leu Gln Pro Tyr Glu Gly Gl - #y Phe Ser Phe Ser Ile        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Ala Asp Glu Tyr Ile Asp Phe Cys Lys Lys As - #n Asn Ile Ser Leu Arg                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Gly His Thr Leu Val Trp His Gln Gln Thr Pr - #o Ser Trp Phe Phe Thr                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Asn Pro Glu Thr Gly Glu Lys Leu Thr Asn Se - #r Glu Lys Asp Lys Xaa               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Ile Leu Leu Asp Arg Leu Lys Lys His Ile Gl - #n Thr Val Val Gly Arg           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Tyr Lys Gly Lys Val Tyr Ala Trp Asp Val Va - #l Asn Glu Ala Ile Asp       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Glu Asn Gln Pro Asp Gly Tyr Arg Arg Ser As - #p Trp Tyr Asn Ile         Xaa                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Gly Pro Glu Tyr Ile Glu Lys Ala Phe Ile Tr - #p Ala His Glu Ala Asp                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Pro Lys Ala Lys Leu Phe Tyr Asn Asp Tyr Se - #r Thr Glu Xaa Pro Tyr               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Lys Arg Gly Asn Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ile Lys As - #n Leu Lys Ala Lys Gly           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Val Pro Val His Gly Val Gly Leu Gln Cys Hi - #s Ile Ser Leu Asp Trp       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Pro Asp Val Ser Glu Ile Glu Glu Thr Val Ly - #s Leu Phe Ser Arg         Ile                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Pro Gly Leu Glu Ile His Phe Thr Glu Ile As - #p Ile Ser Ile Ala Lys                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Asn Met Thr Asp Asp Asp Ala Tyr Asn Arg Ty - #r Leu Leu Ile Gln Gln               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Ala Gln Lys Leu Lys Ala Ile Phe Asp Val Le - #u Lys Lys Tyr Arg Asn           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Val Val Thr Ser Val Thr Phe Trp Gly Leu Ly - #s Asp Asp Tyr Ser Trp       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Leu Arg Gly Asp Met Pro Leu Leu Phe Asp Ly - #s Asp Tyr Gln Pro         Lys                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Phe Ala Phe Trp Ser Leu Ile Asp Pro Ser Va - #l Val Pro Lys Glu                       340      - #           345      - #           350                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 8:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1633 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -    (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                    - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (A) ORGANISM: Extremophile                                                     (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: - #TG456                                      - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 1..1632                                                          (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/partial                                                  /product=- # "xylanase B"                                                      /gene= - #"xynB"                                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #8:                            - - TGT ACC ATA AAA TGG CAG CAA ACA GTT CCA TC - #T GGG GTT TGG ACA GAA            48                                                                        Cys Thr Ile Lys Trp Gln Gln Thr Val Pro Se - #r Gly Val Trp Thr Glu              1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - GTT TCT GGT TCA TAT ACA GTA CCA CAG ACA GC - #A ACC CAG CTC ATA TTC            96                                                                        Val Ser Gly Ser Tyr Thr Val Pro Gln Thr Al - #a Thr Gln Leu Ile Phe                         20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - TAT GTG GAA TCG CCA AAT GCA ACA CTT GAC TT - #T TAC CTT GAC GAC TTT           144                                                                        Tyr Val Glu Ser Pro Asn Ala Thr Leu Asp Ph - #e Tyr Leu Asp Asp Phe                     35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - ACT GTA ATA GAC AAA AAC CCG GTT ACA ATA CC - #T GCT GCG GCA AAA GAG           192                                                                        Thr Val Ile Asp Lys Asn Pro Val Thr Ile Pr - #o Ala Ala Ala Lys Glu                 50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - CCA GAG TTG GAG ATT CCA TCA CTT TGC CAG CA - #A TAC AGC CAG TAC TTT           240                                                                        Pro Glu Leu Glu Ile Pro Ser Leu Cys Gln Gl - #n Tyr Ser Gln Tyr Phe             65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - TCA ATT GGT GTT GCA ATA CCA TAT AGA GTG CT - #C CAA AAC CCG GTA GAA           288                                                                        Ser Ile Gly Val Ala Ile Pro Tyr Arg Val Le - #u Gln Asn Pro Val Glu                             85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - AGA GCA ATG GTT TTA AAG CAT TTC AAC AGT AT - #T ACT GCT GAA AAT GAG           336                                                                        Arg Ala Met Val Leu Lys His Phe Asn Ser Il - #e Thr Ala Glu Asn Glu                        100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - ATG AAG CCC GAT GCT ATA CAA AGA ACA GAA GG - #G CAG TTC AAT TTC GAT           384                                                                        Met Lys Pro Asp Ala Ile Gln Arg Thr Glu Gl - #y Gln Phe Asn Phe Asp                    115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - GTT GCA GAC CAG TAT GTT GAC TTT GCA CAG AG - #C AAT AAT ATT GGA ATA           432                                                                        Val Ala Asp Gln Tyr Val Asp Phe Ala Gln Se - #r Asn Asn Ile Gly Ile                130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - AGA GGT CAT ACA CTG GTT TGG CAT CAA CAA AC - #T CCA GAT TGG TTT TTC           480                                                                        Arg Gly His Thr Leu Val Trp His Gln Gln Th - #r Pro Asp Trp Phe Phe            145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - CAG CAT TCT GAC GGT TCG CCA CTT GAT CCA AA - #C AAT TCT GAA GAC         AAG      528                                                                     Gln His Ser Asp Gly Ser Pro Leu Asp Pro As - #n Asn Ser Glu Asp Lys                           165  - #               170  - #               175               - - CAG CTT TTG AGA AAT AGG TTA AAA ACA CAC AT - #T CAG ACA CTT GTT GGA           576                                                                        Gln Leu Leu Arg Asn Arg Leu Lys Thr His Il - #e Gln Thr Leu Val Gly                        180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - AGA TAT GCA GAG AAA GTT TAT GCA TGG GAT GT - #T GTA AAT GAA GCA ATT           624                                                                        Arg Tyr Ala Glu Lys Val Tyr Ala Trp Asp Va - #l Val Asn Glu Ala Ile                    195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - GAT GAA AAT CAA CCG GAT GGA TAT AGA AGA AG - #T GAA TGG TAC AGA ATT           672                                                                        Asp Glu Asn Gln Pro Asp Gly Tyr Arg Arg Se - #r Glu Trp Tyr Arg Ile                210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - TTA GGA CCA ACT CCA GAA ACA GGC GGA ATA CC - #A GAG TAT ATA ATC CTT           720                                                                        Leu Gly Pro Thr Pro Glu Thr Gly Gly Ile Pr - #o Glu Tyr Ile Ile Leu            225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - GCA TTC CAG TAT GCA CGG GAA GCT GAC CCG AA - #C GCA AAA CTT TTC         TAC      768                                                                     Ala Phe Gln Tyr Ala Arg Glu Ala Asp Pro As - #n Ala Lys Leu Phe Tyr                           245  - #               250  - #               255               - - AAC GAT TAC AGC ACT GAA AAT CCA AAG AAG AG - #A CAG TTT ATT TAC AAC           816                                                                        Asn Asp Tyr Ser Thr Glu Asn Pro Lys Lys Ar - #g Gln Phe Ile Tyr Asn                        260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - ATG GTC AAA GCT TTG CAT GAT AGA GGT CTC AT - #T GAT GGT GTT GGT CTG           864                                                                        Met Val Lys Ala Leu His Asp Arg Gly Leu Il - #e Asp Gly Val Gly Leu                    275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - CAG GGA CAT ATT AAT GTG GAT TCG CCT GCA GT - #C AAA GAA ATA GAA GAT           912                                                                        Gln Gly His Ile Asn Val Asp Ser Pro Ala Va - #l Lys Glu Ile Glu Asp                290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - ACA ATC AAT TTA TTC AGC ACA ATA CCG GGT CT - #T CAA ATT CAA ATA ACA           960                                                                        Thr Ile Asn Leu Phe Ser Thr Ile Pro Gly Le - #u Gln Ile Gln Ile Thr            305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - GAG CTT GAT ATC AGC GTA TAT ACA AGC AGC AC - #T CAG CAA TAT GAC         ACA     1008                                                                     Glu Leu Asp Ile Ser Val Tyr Thr Ser Ser Th - #r Gln Gln Tyr Asp Thr                           325  - #               330  - #               335               - - TTA CCA CAG GAT ATT ATG ATT AAA CAG GCT TT - #A AAA TTC AAA GAG CTG          1056                                                                        Leu Pro Gln Asp Ile Met Ile Lys Gln Ala Le - #u Lys Phe Lys Glu Leu                        340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - TTT GAA ATG TTA AAG CGC CAC AGC GAC AGA AT - #C ACA AAT GTT ACA CTT          1104                                                                        Phe Glu Met Leu Lys Arg His Ser Asp Arg Il - #e Thr Asn Val Thr Leu                    355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - TGG GGT CTC AAA GAT GAT TAT CCA TGG CTG TC - #A AAA GAT AGA AGT AAC          1152                                                                        Trp Gly Leu Lys Asp Asp Tyr Pro Trp Leu Se - #r Lys Asp Arg Ser Asn                370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - TGG CCA CTG CTA TTT GAT AGT AAC TAC CAG GC - #A AAA TAC AAT TAC TGG          1200                                                                        Trp Pro Leu Leu Phe Asp Ser Asn Tyr Gln Al - #a Lys Tyr Asn Tyr Trp            385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -       #00                                                                               - - GCT ATT GTA GAA CCT TCG GTG TTG CCT GTT GC - #T ATA AAT AAG GGA         TAT     1248                                                                     Ala Ile Val Glu Pro Ser Val Leu Pro Val Al - #a Ile Asn Lys Gly Tyr                           405  - #               410  - #               415               - - GCG AAC AAT GCA CAG CCA AGA ATT GAT GGG AT - #T ATG GAT AAA GAA TAC          1296                                                                        Ala Asn Asn Ala Gln Pro Arg Ile Asp Gly Il - #e Met Asp Lys Glu Tyr                        420      - #           425      - #           430                   - - AAA GGA ACC ATT CCA CTT TCG GTT TTG AAT GA - #T GCA GGG CAG GAT ATT          1344                                                                        Lys Gly Thr Ile Pro Leu Ser Val Leu Asn As - #p Ala Gly Gln Asp Ile                    435          - #       440          - #       445                       - - GCT CAG GTA AGG GCA CTG TGG AGT GGC AAT GA - #G CTT TGT CTT TAT GTC          1392                                                                        Ala Gln Val Arg Ala Leu Trp Ser Gly Asn Gl - #u Leu Cys Leu Tyr Val                450              - #   455              - #   460                           - - ACT GTA AAT GAT TCA AGT GTG GAT GCT AAC AA - #T GAT AGG GTT GTA ATT          1440                                                                        Thr Val Asn Asp Ser Ser Val Asp Ala Asn As - #n Asp Arg Val Val Ile            465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -       #80                                                                               - - TTC ATT GAT CAG GAC AAT GGA AAG TTG CCA GA - #G TTA AAA GAT GAT         GAC     1488                                                                     Phe Ile Asp Gln Asp Asn Gly Lys Leu Pro Gl - #u Leu Lys Asp Asp Asp                           485  - #               490  - #               495               - - TTC TGG GTT TCA ATT TCG AGA AAT GGC ACA AA - #G AAT CAA TCC AAA ACT          1536                                                                        Phe Trp Val Ser Ile Ser Arg Asn Gly Thr Ly - #s Asn Gln Ser Lys Thr                        500      - #           505      - #           510                   - - GGC TAT GTA AAA GAT TAT GTA GTG TTA CAG CA - #A TTA AAT GGA TAT ACA          1584                                                                        Gly Tyr Val Lys Asp Tyr Val Val Leu Gln Gl - #n Leu Asn Gly Tyr Thr                    515          - #       520          - #       525                       - - ATG GAG GTT AAG CTG CTT TTA AAC AAC AGT TT - #A GCA ATT AAC ACA AAT          1632                                                                        Met Glu Val Lys Leu Leu Leu Asn Asn Ser Le - #u Ala Ile Asn Thr Asn                530              - #   535              - #   540                           - - A                  - #                  - #                  - #                  1633                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 9:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 544 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #9:                            - - Cys Thr Ile Lys Trp Gln Gln Thr Val Pro Se - #r Gly Val Trp Thr Glu         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Val Ser Gly Ser Tyr Thr Val Pro Gln Thr Al - #a Thr Gln Leu Ile Phe                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Tyr Val Glu Ser Pro Asn Ala Thr Leu Asp Ph - #e Tyr Leu Asp Asp Phe                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Thr Val Ile Asp Lys Asn Pro Val Thr Ile Pr - #o Ala Ala Ala Lys Glu            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Pro Glu Leu Glu Ile Pro Ser Leu Cys Gln Gl - #n Tyr Ser Gln Tyr Phe        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Ser Ile Gly Val Ala Ile Pro Tyr Arg Val Le - #u Gln Asn Pro Val Glu                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Arg Ala Met Val Leu Lys His Phe Asn Ser Il - #e Thr Ala Glu Asn Glu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Met Lys Pro Asp Ala Ile Gln Arg Thr Glu Gl - #y Gln Phe Asn Phe Asp               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Val Ala Asp Gln Tyr Val Asp Phe Ala Gln Se - #r Asn Asn Ile Gly Ile           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Arg Gly His Thr Leu Val Trp His Gln Gln Th - #r Pro Asp Trp Phe Phe       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Gln His Ser Asp Gly Ser Pro Leu Asp Pro As - #n Asn Ser Glu Asp         Lys                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Gln Leu Leu Arg Asn Arg Leu Lys Thr His Il - #e Gln Thr Leu Val Gly                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Arg Tyr Ala Glu Lys Val Tyr Ala Trp Asp Va - #l Val Asn Glu Ala Ile               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Asp Glu Asn Gln Pro Asp Gly Tyr Arg Arg Se - #r Glu Trp Tyr Arg Ile           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Leu Gly Pro Thr Pro Glu Thr Gly Gly Ile Pr - #o Glu Tyr Ile Ile Leu       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Ala Phe Gln Tyr Ala Arg Glu Ala Asp Pro As - #n Ala Lys Leu Phe         Tyr                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Asn Asp Tyr Ser Thr Glu Asn Pro Lys Lys Ar - #g Gln Phe Ile Tyr Asn                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Met Val Lys Ala Leu His Asp Arg Gly Leu Il - #e Asp Gly Val Gly Leu               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Gln Gly His Ile Asn Val Asp Ser Pro Ala Va - #l Lys Glu Ile Glu Asp           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Thr Ile Asn Leu Phe Ser Thr Ile Pro Gly Le - #u Gln Ile Gln Ile Thr       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Glu Leu Asp Ile Ser Val Tyr Thr Ser Ser Th - #r Gln Gln Tyr Asp         Thr                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Leu Pro Gln Asp Ile Met Ile Lys Gln Ala Le - #u Lys Phe Lys Glu Leu                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Phe Glu Met Leu Lys Arg His Ser Asp Arg Il - #e Thr Asn Val Thr Leu               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Trp Gly Leu Lys Asp Asp Tyr Pro Trp Leu Se - #r Lys Asp Arg Ser Asn           370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - Trp Pro Leu Leu Phe Asp Ser Asn Tyr Gln Al - #a Lys Tyr Asn Tyr Trp       385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -       #00                                                                               - - Ala Ile Val Glu Pro Ser Val Leu Pro Val Al - #a Ile Asn Lys Gly         Tyr                                                                                              405  - #               410  - #               415              - - Ala Asn Asn Ala Gln Pro Arg Ile Asp Gly Il - #e Met Asp Lys Glu Tyr                   420      - #           425      - #           430                   - - Lys Gly Thr Ile Pro Leu Ser Val Leu Asn As - #p Ala Gly Gln Asp Ile               435          - #       440          - #       445                       - - Ala Gln Val Arg Ala Leu Trp Ser Gly Asn Gl - #u Leu Cys Leu Tyr Val           450              - #   455              - #   460                           - - Thr Val Asn Asp Ser Ser Val Asp Ala Asn As - #n Asp Arg Val Val Ile       465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -       #80                                                                               - - Phe Ile Asp Gln Asp Asn Gly Lys Leu Pro Gl - #u Leu Lys Asp Asp         Asp                                                                                              485  - #               490  - #               495              - - Phe Trp Val Ser Ile Ser Arg Asn Gly Thr Ly - #s Asn Gln Ser Lys Thr                   500      - #           505      - #           510                   - - Gly Tyr Val Lys Asp Tyr Val Val Leu Gln Gl - #n Leu Asn Gly Tyr Thr               515          - #       520          - #       525                       - - Met Glu Val Lys Leu Leu Leu Asn Asn Ser Le - #u Ala Ile Asn Thr Asn           530              - #   535              - #   540                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 10:                                    - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1125 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -    (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                    - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (A) ORGANISM: Extremophile                                                     (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: - #TG456                                      - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 1..1125                                                          (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/partial                                                  /product=- # "xylanase C"                                                      /gene= - #"xynC"                                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #10:                           - - CGC GAG TTA TTA CTT TAT GTT GAG GCG CAA AA - #T GCA AAT TTG GCT TTC            48                                                                        Arg Glu Leu Leu Leu Tyr Val Glu Ala Gln As - #n Ala Asn Leu Ala Phe              1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - TGG GTT GAT GAT TTA AAG ATT TAT GAT TTA TC - #C AAG CTG GCT GAA CCT            96                                                                        Trp Val Asp Asp Leu Lys Ile Tyr Asp Leu Se - #r Lys Leu Ala Glu Pro                         20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - GAA TGG GAG ATA CCA TCT TTG ATA GAA AAG TA - #T AAA GAT TAT TTC AAA           144                                                                        Glu Trp Glu Ile Pro Ser Leu Ile Glu Lys Ty - #r Lys Asp Tyr Phe Lys                     35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - GTA GGG GTA GCT TTG TCT TAC AAA AGC ATT GC - #T YCT GAT ACA GAG AAG           192                                                                        Val Gly Val Ala Leu Ser Tyr Lys Ser Ile Al - #a Xaa Asp Thr Glu Lys                 50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - AAG ATG GTT TTG AAG CAT TTC AAT AGT ATT AC - #T GCA GGG AAT GAA ATG           240                                                                        Lys Met Val Leu Lys His Phe Asn Ser Ile Th - #r Ala Gly Asn Glu Met             65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - AAA CCA TCA GAG TTA CTT ATC AGT GAA AAT AA - #T TAT AAC TTT AGT AAA           288                                                                        Lys Pro Ser Glu Leu Leu Ile Ser Glu Asn As - #n Tyr Asn Phe Ser Lys                             85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - GCA GAT GAA TTT GTA AAT TTT GCA ACA AGT AA - #C AAC ATT GCC ATC AGA           336                                                                        Ala Asp Glu Phe Val Asn Phe Ala Thr Ser As - #n Asn Ile Ala Ile Arg                        100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - GGT CAT ACA CTG GTT TGG CAT GAG CAA ACA CC - #C GAC TGG TTT TTC AAG           384                                                                        Gly His Thr Leu Val Trp His Glu Gln Thr Pr - #o Asp Trp Phe Phe Lys                    115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - GAT GCA AAT GGA AAT ACC TTG AGC AAG GAT GC - #A TTG CTA AGC AGA TTA           432                                                                        Asp Ala Asn Gly Asn Thr Leu Ser Lys Asp Al - #a Leu Leu Ser Arg Leu                130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - AAG CAG TAT ATT TAT ACG GTA GTG GGA AGA TA - #T AAA GGG AAG GTT TAT           480                                                                        Lys Gln Tyr Ile Tyr Thr Val Val Gly Arg Ty - #r Lys Gly Lys Val Tyr            145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - GCA TGG GAT GTG GTA AAT RAA GCA ATA GAT GA - #A AGT CAA GGT AAT         GGA      528                                                                     Ala Trp Asp Val Val Asn Xaa Ala Ile Asp Gl - #u Ser Gln Gly Asn Gly                           165  - #               170  - #               175               - - TTC AGG AGA TCT AAC TGG TAC AAC ATT TGT GG - #T CCC GAA TAT ATT GAA           576                                                                        Phe Arg Arg Ser Asn Trp Tyr Asn Ile Cys Gl - #y Pro Glu Tyr Ile Glu                        180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - AAG GCT TTT ATA TGG GCA CAT GAR GCC GAT CC - #A GAC GCA AAA TTG TTT           624                                                                        Lys Ala Phe Ile Trp Ala His Glu Ala Asp Pr - #o Asp Ala Lys Leu Phe                    195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - TAC AAC GAT TAC AAC ACA GAA AAC AGT CAG AA - #G AGA CAG TTT ATT TMC           672                                                                        Tyr Asn Asp Tyr Asn Thr Glu Asn Ser Gln Ly - #s Arg Gln Phe Ile Xaa                210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - AAC ATG ATT AAG AGT CTC AAG GAA AAA GGT GT - #T CCA ATT CAT GGA ATA           720                                                                        Asn Met Ile Lys Ser Leu Lys Glu Lys Gly Va - #l Pro Ile His Gly Ile            225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - GGA TTG CGG TGT CAT ATA AAT CTT GAT TGG CC - #C TCG ATT AGC GAG         ATA      768                                                                     Gly Leu Arg Cys His Ile Asn Leu Asp Trp Pr - #o Ser Ile Ser Glu Ile                           245  - #               250  - #               255               - - GAG AAC ACC ATA AAA TTG TTC AGC TCT ATA CC - #T GGA TTG GAG ATA CAC           816                                                                        Glu Asn Thr Ile Lys Leu Phe Ser Ser Ile Pr - #o Gly Leu Glu Ile His                        260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - ATT ACG GAG CTT GAT ATG AGT TTT TAT CAG TG - #G GGT TCG AGT ACC AGT           864                                                                        Ile Thr Glu Leu Asp Met Ser Phe Tyr Gln Tr - #p Gly Ser Ser Thr Ser                    275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - TAT TCA ACG CCA CCM AGA GAT CTC CTG ATA AA - #A CAG GCA ATG AGA TAT           912                                                                        Tyr Ser Thr Pro Pro Arg Asp Leu Leu Ile Ly - #s Gln Ala Met Arg Tyr                290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - AAG GAG TTA TTC GAT TTA TTT AAA AAG TAC AA - #T GTA ATA ACT AAT GTA           960                                                                        Lys Glu Leu Phe Asp Leu Phe Lys Lys Tyr As - #n Val Ile Thr Asn Val            305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - ACA TTC TGG GGA CTA AAG GAT GAT TAC TCA TG - #G CTG AGT CAA AAC         TTT     1008                                                                     Thr Phe Trp Gly Leu Lys Asp Asp Tyr Ser Tr - #p Leu Ser Gln Asn Phe                           325  - #               330  - #               335               - - GGA AAA AGT GAT TAC CCG TTG TTA TTT GAT GG - #A AAC TAT AAG TCA AAA          1056                                                                        Gly Lys Ser Asp Tyr Pro Leu Leu Phe Asp Gl - #y Asn Tyr Lys Ser Lys                        340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - TAT GCC TTT TGG AGC CTG ATT GAG CCA ACT GT - #G GTG CCG GTT ACC GGT          1104                                                                        Tyr Ala Phe Trp Ser Leu Ile Glu Pro Thr Va - #l Val Pro Val Thr Gly                    355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - CAT AGC TGT TTT TGC GCC ATG       - #                  - #                     1125                                                                      His Ser Cys Phe Cys Ala Met                                                        370              - #   375                                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 11:                                    - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 375 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #11:                           - - Arg Glu Leu Leu Leu Tyr Val Glu Ala Gln As - #n Ala Asn Leu Ala Phe         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Trp Val Asp Asp Leu Lys Ile Tyr Asp Leu Se - #r Lys Leu Ala Glu Pro                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Glu Trp Glu Ile Pro Ser Leu Ile Glu Lys Ty - #r Lys Asp Tyr Phe Lys                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Val Gly Val Ala Leu Ser Tyr Lys Ser Ile Al - #a Xaa Asp Thr Glu Lys            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Lys Met Val Leu Lys His Phe Asn Ser Ile Th - #r Ala Gly Asn Glu Met        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Lys Pro Ser Glu Leu Leu Ile Ser Glu Asn As - #n Tyr Asn Phe Ser Lys                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Ala Asp Glu Phe Val Asn Phe Ala Thr Ser As - #n Asn Ile Ala Ile Arg                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Gly His Thr Leu Val Trp His Glu Gln Thr Pr - #o Asp Trp Phe Phe Lys               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Asp Ala Asn Gly Asn Thr Leu Ser Lys Asp Al - #a Leu Leu Ser Arg Leu           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Lys Gln Tyr Ile Tyr Thr Val Val Gly Arg Ty - #r Lys Gly Lys Val Tyr       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Ala Trp Asp Val Val Asn Xaa Ala Ile Asp Gl - #u Ser Gln Gly Asn         Gly                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Phe Arg Arg Ser Asn Trp Tyr Asn Ile Cys Gl - #y Pro Glu Tyr Ile Glu                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Lys Ala Phe Ile Trp Ala His Glu Ala Asp Pr - #o Asp Ala Lys Leu Phe               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Tyr Asn Asp Tyr Asn Thr Glu Asn Ser Gln Ly - #s Arg Gln Phe Ile Xaa           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Asn Met Ile Lys Ser Leu Lys Glu Lys Gly Va - #l Pro Ile His Gly Ile       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Gly Leu Arg Cys His Ile Asn Leu Asp Trp Pr - #o Ser Ile Ser Glu         Ile                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Glu Asn Thr Ile Lys Leu Phe Ser Ser Ile Pr - #o Gly Leu Glu Ile His                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Ile Thr Glu Leu Asp Met Ser Phe Tyr Gln Tr - #p Gly Ser Ser Thr Ser               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Tyr Ser Thr Pro Pro Arg Asp Leu Leu Ile Ly - #s Gln Ala Met Arg Tyr           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Lys Glu Leu Phe Asp Leu Phe Lys Lys Tyr As - #n Val Ile Thr Asn Val       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Thr Phe Trp Gly Leu Lys Asp Asp Tyr Ser Tr - #p Leu Ser Gln Asn         Phe                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Gly Lys Ser Asp Tyr Pro Leu Leu Phe Asp Gl - #y Asn Tyr Lys Ser Lys                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Tyr Ala Phe Trp Ser Leu Ile Glu Pro Thr Va - #l Val Pro Val Thr Gly               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - His Ser Cys Phe Cys Ala Met                                                   370              - #   375                                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 12:                                    - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1244 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -    (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                    - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (A) ORGANISM: Extremophile                                                     (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: - #TG456                                      - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 1..1107                                                          (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/partial                                                  /product=- # "xylanase D"                                                      /gene= - #"xynD"                                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #12:                           - - AAA GTC TTG CTG GCT GCT CTG ATG TGT GTT GT - #G TTG GCT AAT CCT TTT            48                                                                        Lys Val Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Met Cys Val Va - #l Leu Ala Asn Pro Phe              1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - TAT GCA CAG GCA GCC ATG ACA TTT ACC TCT AA - #T GCA ACT GGG ACA TAC            96                                                                        Tyr Ala Gln Ala Ala Met Thr Phe Thr Ser As - #n Ala Thr Gly Thr Tyr                         20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - GAT GGT TAC TAC TAC GAG TTG TGG AAG GAC AC - #A GGG AAT ACT ACC ATG           144                                                                        Asp Gly Tyr Tyr Tyr Glu Leu Trp Lys Asp Th - #r Gly Asn Thr Thr Met                     35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - ACA GTT GAC ACA GGA GGA AGA TTT AGC TGT CA - #G TGG AGT AAC ATT AAC           192                                                                        Thr Val Asp Thr Gly Gly Arg Phe Ser Cys Gl - #n Trp Ser Asn Ile Asn                 50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - AAT GCA CTC TTC AGA ACA GGT AAA AAG TTT AG - #C ACT GCA TGG AAT CAG           240                                                                        Asn Ala Leu Phe Arg Thr Gly Lys Lys Phe Se - #r Thr Ala Trp Asn Gln             65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - CTT GGG ACT GTA AAG ATT ACC TAC TCT GCT AC - #C TAC AAT CCA AAT GGC           288                                                                        Leu Gly Thr Val Lys Ile Thr Tyr Ser Ala Th - #r Tyr Asn Pro Asn Gly                             85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - AAT TCC TAT CTC TGC ATT TAT GGA TGG TCA AG - #A AAT CCA CTT GTT GAA           336                                                                        Asn Ser Tyr Leu Cys Ile Tyr Gly Trp Ser Ar - #g Asn Pro Leu Val Glu                        100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - TTT TAT ATC GTT GAA AGC TGG GGC TCA TGG CG - #T CCG CCC GGG GCA ACG           384                                                                        Phe Tyr Ile Val Glu Ser Trp Gly Ser Trp Ar - #g Pro Pro Gly Ala Thr                    115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - TCA CTT GGC ACT GTA ACA ATT GAT GGA GCA AC - #A TAT GAT ATT TAT AAG           432                                                                        Ser Leu Gly Thr Val Thr Ile Asp Gly Ala Th - #r Tyr Asp Ile Tyr Lys                130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - ACA ACT CGT GTT AAT CAG CCA TCT ATC GAA GG - #A ACA AGA ACA TTT GAT           480                                                                        Thr Thr Arg Val Asn Gln Pro Ser Ile Glu Gl - #y Thr Arg Thr Phe Asp            145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - CAG TAC TGG AGT GTT AGG ACA TCA AAG AGA AC - #A AGT GGT ACT GTT         ACT      528                                                                     Gln Tyr Trp Ser Val Arg Thr Ser Lys Arg Th - #r Ser Gly Thr Val Thr                           165  - #               170  - #               175               - - GTA ACT GAT CAT TTC AAA GCA TGG GCT GCA AA - #A GGT TTG AAC CTG GGT           576                                                                        Val Thr Asp His Phe Lys Ala Trp Ala Ala Ly - #s Gly Leu Asn Leu Gly                        180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - ACA ATT GAC CAG ATT ACA CTC TGT GTG GAA GG - #Y TAC CAR AGC AGC GGC           624                                                                        Thr Ile Asp Gln Ile Thr Leu Cys Val Glu Gl - #y Tyr Gln Ser Ser Gly                    195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - TCA GCA AAT ATA ACA CAG AAT ACA TTT ACT AT - #T GGT GGT TCG AGT AGT           672                                                                        Ser Ala Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Thr Phe Thr Il - #e Gly Gly Ser Ser Ser                210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - GGC TCA AGT AAT GGT TCA AAT AAC GGT TCA AA - #T GAT GGT TCC AAT GGA           720                                                                        Gly Ser Ser Asn Gly Ser Asn Asn Gly Ser As - #n Asp Gly Ser Asn Gly            225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - GGA ACA AAT GCA GGA ATT TCA ACY GCA AGC AG - #G ATA GAA TGT GAA         AGT      768                                                                     Gly Thr Asn Ala Gly Ile Ser Thr Ala Ser Ar - #g Ile Glu Cys Glu Ser                           245  - #               250  - #               255               - - ATG TCG CTC AGC GGY CCT TAT GTT TCA AGA AT - #T ACT TAT CCA TTT AAT           816                                                                        Met Ser Leu Ser Gly Pro Tyr Val Ser Arg Il - #e Thr Tyr Pro Phe Asn                        260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - GGT ATA GCA CTT TAT GCG AAC GGA GAT AGA GC - #A ACG GCA AAT GTA AAC           864                                                                        Gly Ile Ala Leu Tyr Ala Asn Gly Asp Arg Al - #a Thr Ala Asn Val Asn                    275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - TTT TCA GCA AGC CGT AAC TAT ACT TTT AAA TT - #A CGT GGA TGT GGA AAT           912                                                                        Phe Ser Ala Ser Arg Asn Tyr Thr Phe Lys Le - #u Arg Gly Cys Gly Asn                290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - AAC AAT AAT TTG GCA TCA GTT GAT TTA CTG AT - #A GAT GGA AAG AAA GTA           960                                                                        Asn Asn Asn Leu Ala Ser Val Asp Leu Leu Il - #e Asp Gly Lys Lys Val            305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - GGT TCG TTC TAT TAT AAG GGA ACA TAT CCT TG - #G GAA GCY TCT ATA         AAT     1008                                                                     Gly Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Lys Gly Thr Tyr Pro Tr - #p Glu Ala Ser Ile Asn                           325  - #               330  - #               335               - - AAT GTG TAT GTA AGT GCA GGT ACC CAC AGA GW - #G GAG CTT GTA CTT TCT          1056                                                                        Asn Val Tyr Val Ser Ala Gly Thr His Arg Xa - #a Glu Leu Val Leu Ser                        340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - GCT GAT AAT GGT ACA TGG GAT GTC TAT GCG GA - #T TAT TTG TTA ATA CAA          1104                                                                        Ala Asp Asn Gly Thr Trp Asp Val Tyr Ala As - #p Tyr Leu Leu Ile Gln                    355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - TGAAATTCGG AAATGTTTTT AAAAATACTG CTTCGRAGAA GCAGGTATTT TT -              #TTATGTTC   1164                                                                  - - ACTATTATAA AGCGATTGAA GTCAGTCTTA GTTCATCCTA GTTGTTCTTC AR -             #ACCGRTCA   1224                                                                  - - TAGCTGTTTC CKGCGCCATG            - #                  - #                      124 - #4                                                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 13:                                    - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 368 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: - #13:                           - - Lys Val Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Met Cys Val Va - #l Leu Ala Asn Pro Phe         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Tyr Ala Gln Ala Ala Met Thr Phe Thr Ser As - #n Ala Thr Gly Thr Tyr                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Asp Gly Tyr Tyr Tyr Glu Leu Trp Lys Asp Th - #r Gly Asn Thr Thr Met                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Thr Val Asp Thr Gly Gly Arg Phe Ser Cys Gl - #n Trp Ser Asn Ile Asn            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Asn Ala Leu Phe Arg Thr Gly Lys Lys Phe Se - #r Thr Ala Trp Asn Gln        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Leu Gly Thr Val Lys Ile Thr Tyr Ser Ala Th - #r Tyr Asn Pro Asn Gly                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Asn Ser Tyr Leu Cys Ile Tyr Gly Trp Ser Ar - #g Asn Pro Leu Val Glu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Phe Tyr Ile Val Glu Ser Trp Gly Ser Trp Ar - #g Pro Pro Gly Ala Thr               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Ser Leu Gly Thr Val Thr Ile Asp Gly Ala Th - #r Tyr Asp Ile Tyr Lys           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Thr Thr Arg Val Asn Gln Pro Ser Ile Glu Gl - #y Thr Arg Thr Phe Asp       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Gln Tyr Trp Ser Val Arg Thr Ser Lys Arg Th - #r Ser Gly Thr Val         Thr                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Val Thr Asp His Phe Lys Ala Trp Ala Ala Ly - #s Gly Leu Asn Leu Gly                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Thr Ile Asp Gln Ile Thr Leu Cys Val Glu Gl - #y Tyr Gln Ser Ser Gly               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Ser Ala Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Thr Phe Thr Il - #e Gly Gly Ser Ser Ser           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Gly Ser Ser Asn Gly Ser Asn Asn Gly Ser As - #n Asp Gly Ser Asn Gly       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Gly Thr Asn Ala Gly Ile Ser Thr Ala Ser Ar - #g Ile Glu Cys Glu         Ser                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Met Ser Leu Ser Gly Pro Tyr Val Ser Arg Il - #e Thr Tyr Pro Phe Asn                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Gly Ile Ala Leu Tyr Ala Asn Gly Asp Arg Al - #a Thr Ala Asn Val Asn               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Phe Ser Ala Ser Arg Asn Tyr Thr Phe Lys Le - #u Arg Gly Cys Gly Asn           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Asn Asn Asn Leu Ala Ser Val Asp Leu Leu Il - #e Asp Gly Lys Lys Val       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Gly Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Lys Gly Thr Tyr Pro Tr - #p Glu Ala Ser Ile         Asn                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Asn Val Tyr Val Ser Ala Gly Thr His Arg Xa - #a Glu Leu Val Leu Ser                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Ala Asp Asn Gly Thr Trp Asp Val Tyr Ala As - #p Tyr Leu Leu Ile Gln               355          - #       360          - #       365                     __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A purified and isolated G-type xylanase enzyme from a thermophilic microorganism, wherein the G-type xylanase has the following characteristics:(a) has significant delignifying activity at a temperature of at least 80° C. and at a pH of 9.0 or above; and (b) the encoding nucleotide sequence therefor comprises an internal consensus fragment (ICF) which has more than 80% sequence identity with the G-type internal consensus fragment, positions 295 to 623, of SEQ ID NO:12, or which has an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical with SEQ ID NO:
 13. 2. A xylanase according to claim 1 having a half-life at 80° C. and pH 9.0 of more than 10 minutes.
 3. A xylanase according to claim 1 characterized in that the thermophilic organism is anaerobic.
 4. A xylanase according to claim 1 having a half-life of more than 10 minutes at 80° C. and at pH 7.0.
 5. A xylanase according to claim 1 having a half-life of more than 10 minutes at 65° C. and at pH 9.0.
 6. A xylanase according to claim 3 having a half-life of more than 10 minutes at 80° C. and at pH 7.0.
 7. A xylanase according to claim 3 having a half-life of more than 10 minutes al 65° C. and at pH 9.0.
 8. A xylanase according to claim 1 derived from one of the bacterial strains deposited under deposition number CBS 211.94, 212.94, 213.94, 214.94, 215.94 or 216.94.
 9. A xylanase according to claim 4 derived from one of the bacterial strains deposited under deposition number CBS 211.94, 212.94, 213.94, 214.94, 215.94 or 216.94.
 10. A xylanase according to claim 6 derived from one of the bacterial strains deposited under deposition number CBS 211.94, 212.94, 213.94, 214.94, 215.94 or 216.94.
 11. A xylanase according to claim 5 derived from one of the bacterial strains deposited under deposition number CBS 211.94, 212.94, 213.94, 214.94, 215.94 or 216.94.
 12. A xylanase according to claim 7 derived from one of the bacterial strains deposited under deposition number CBS 211.94, 212.94, 213.94, 214.94, 215.94 or 216.94. 